In historic push, Minnesota Republicans grab control of state House, Senate

[speppin]

Its a horrible time for the whole upper midwest.


http://www.twincities.com/newsletter-politics/ci_16508464?nclick_check=1

and:

http://www.twincities.com/newsletter-politics/ci_16508464?nclick_check=1


In historic push, Minnesota Republicans grab control of state House, Senate
By Jason Hoppin
Pioneer Press
Updated: 11/03/2010 05:02:00 AM CDT

State Capitol
The Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul Wednesday, May 30, 2007. (Pioneer Press, file) (Brandi Jade Thomas)
Related

* Election 2010 Top News
* Minnesota U.S. House shocker: Cravaack takes out longtime pol Oberstar in 8th District
* GOP picks up 10 governorships
* Dayton holds slim lead over Emmer; recount possible
* Bachmann prevails in costly clash in 6th Congressional District
* Gridlock alert: Republicans reclaim U.S. House; Democrats hold control in Senate

Though perched on a hill and nestled within a usually-Democratic enclave of the Upper Midwest, the Minnesota Capitol fell victim to the Republican tide of change that swept the country Tuesday.

Jubilant Republicans grabbed control of the Senate and House after making historic gains in the legislature. A distant minority as Election Day began, the GOP engineered a stunning turnaround by defending every incumbent seat and rolling back Democratic territory in rural and suburban Minnesota.

Sen. David Senjem, the Rochester Republican poised to become the new Majority Leader, credited not just an anti-Democratic mood in the country but also the quality of candidates recruited for the 2010 races.

"They brought us home a victory," Senjem said. "More than that, they brought us home the majority in the Senate." It was a prediction even Republican boosters did not dare make prior to Tuesday's vote. They have never held the majority since the state went to partisan elections in the early 1970s.

Yet after Democrats started the day with a 46-21 veto-proof supermajority, they ended it down 31 seats to 36. ......

[Brickbat]

1. The DFL needs to take a very close look at how it puts forward candidates in these races.

I lost my faith in the party six or seven years ago.