Minnesota

Minnesota hasn't had a Democratic governor in nearly a quarter of a century. A former senator who's making an improbable political comeback hopes to change that this year. Mark Dayton bucked the Democratic Party establishment with a self-financed campaign to upset primary opponent Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who was endorsed by both of the state's Democratic senators. The liberal Dayton, who ran on a "tax the rich" message, faces anti-tax conservative Republican Tom Emmer in November. Independence Party candidate Tom Horner could be a factor in the three-way race to succeed Tim Pawlenty, a possible 2012 GOP presidential contender, who decided not to seek a third term as governor.All eight of Minnesota's House members are running for re-election. The most vulnerable might be Republican Michele Bachmann, a tea party hero and Sarah Palin ally who's a target of the Democrats' "red-to-blue" campaign. There is no Senate race this year. Obama won Minnesota in 2008.