MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A couple dozen key races were expected to determine whether Republicans wrest control of the Minnesota Legislature from Democrats.

The critical contests Tuesday were in several Twin Cities suburbs and scattered hot spots around the state, including the northwestern and southwestern corners and districts surrounding Rochester, Bemidji, Princeton and Cambridge. Republicans need 21 pickups to take a majority in the House and 13 to win the Senate.

Republicans ran aggressive challengers as they tried to bring national discontent home to legislative races. Democrats defended incumbents in the Twin Cities suburbs, northern Minnesota and the Rochester area, as they tried to hang onto the gavels in both legislative chambers.

All 201 seats were on the ballot.

Democrats now control the House 87-47 and the Senate 46-21. The House has been under DFL control for the past four years. Democrats have ruled the state Senate since before party designations came into use in 1974.

The party that controls the Legislature will decide what to do on state taxes, determining how far the new governor gets with his agenda. Legislative majorities will confront a projected $6 billion deficit, address a push for a new Minnesota Vikings stadium and redraw political boundaries before the 2012 election.

Candidates for the Legislature have spent the election cycle campaigning by mail and in person on voters’ doorsteps, with cable TV ads hitting the air in some competitive races. The issues have ranged from the budget shortfall to taxes, job creation, state construction spending and daily expense payments for senators.

State law limits legislative candidates’ spending to five-digit figures, but the political parties and allied groups have funneled at least $2.9 million into contested House races and at least $2 million into Senate matchups. Those pushing to protect Democrats have spent about twice as much as GOP allies.