ST. PAUL — Newly powerful Republican lawmakers are promising to focus on jobs and the economy as they prepare to run the entire Minnesota Legislature for the first time since 1972.

Republicans won a majority in the state Senate Tuesday after a generation on the outside. They also regained control of the House after four years in the minority.

Top House Republicans say their gains show that voters don’t want higher taxes.

That could signal a major struggle if Democrat Mark Dayton ends up beating Republican Tom Emmer in a governor’s race expected to go to an automatic recount. Dayton says he won’t back away from his plan to increase taxes on the highest incomes if elected.