ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s precinct caucuses are getting rolling for the 2018 election cycle.

Caucuses for both parties kicked off statewide at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The main event was a scheduled preference poll in the governor’s race that will gauge each candidates’ support.

More than 100 Democratic voters crowded into a small auditorium at south Minneapolis community school to cast ballots and begin the process of electing delegates for statewide conventions in June.

Results of the straw poll weren’t expected until later Tuesday night or early Wednesday. But history shows those poll results are rarely indicative of who will win each party’s nomination.

Party chairs hoped high energy surrounding Minnesota politics would power high turnout in Tuesday’s caucus.

Minnesota voters will provide a critical early readout on the state’s wide-open governor’s race during precinct caucuses.

The caucuses Tuesday are expected to be heavily attended by members of both parties. They mark the first step in the march toward each party’s nominating convention in June, with the main event a preference poll testing support for all gubernatorial candidates.

History shows that poll is rarely indicative of who will win each party’s nomination.

Party chairs are hoping high energy surrounding the state’s politics powers high turnout in a year that will also see a special election for former Sen. Al Franken’s seat and four or more closely watched congressional races.