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Minnesota


Minnesota Labor Force Participation Rate Reaches 29-Year Low

The last time the labor force participation rate was this low in the Gopher State was July 1983.

Tim Pawlenty Comes Home

At a University of Minnesota event, Pawlenty discusses moderate Republicans, political compromise, and why Americans get the candidates they deserve.

Minnesota Poised to Set Democratic Presidential Winning Streak for Non-Southern States

A Barack Obama victory in Minnesota in 2012 will give the Gopher State the longest all-time Democratic winning streak in presidential elections outside of the south at 10 in a row.

US House Tenure Varies Wildly Across the 50 States Throughout History

U.S. Representatives from western states serve an average of 2.9 years longer than those from northeastern states throughout history.

Bachmann Blasts "Liberal Courts" Over "Injustice" and "Biased" New Map

The congresswoman sends a message to supporters seeking to raise money in light of being out-districted in 2012.

Will New Redistricting Map Bring Minnesota More Competitive US House Races?

History says no: Gopher State elections in redistricting years ending in '2' have been the second least competitive, behind only years ending in '6'

Will the DFL Compete in All Eight Minnesota U.S. House Races?

The DFL has landed a candidate on the ballot in every Gopher State U.S. House race since the merger in 1944, spanning 283 consecutive contests.

Minnesota Caucuses: Paul Reaches Record High, Romney Nears Record Low

Minnesotans deliver the Texas Congressman his best performance in a GOP primary or caucus over the last two cycles...and Romney one of his worst.

Bachmann Celebrates Reelection Bid Announcement with Second 'Appearance' on Jeopardy!

Bachmann clues have netted Jeopardy! contestants $1,200 over the past year

Al Franken on Al Franken

"I think I've done a pretty good job, actually."

Will Michele Bachmann Pull a Phil Gramm in Iowa?

Bachmann is on pace for the worst ever performance at the caucuses by an Iowa Straw Poll winner - a mark currently held by Phil Gramm in 1996.

Did Michele Bachmann Coin the Phrase "Frugal Socialists?"

The phrase has appeared sporadically in the media in various political contexts over the last few decades.

Rick Nolan's Pathway: A Historical Review of Minnesota U.S. Representatives Serving Nonconsecutive Terms

Nine of Minnesota's 134 U.S. Representatives since statehood have had a gap in U.S. House service, although none since 1938 and for no more than 14 years.

Minnesota Large Donor Giving Rate to Bachmann Up 50% from Last Congressional Bid

But Bachmann ranks only 7th in the GOP presidential field in per capita home state fundraising.

Minnesota Twins on Pace for Biggest Season-to-Season Plunge in Team History

If the Twins lose just two more games in 2011 they will notch their largest ever year-to-year decline in winning percentage.

The Invisible Erik Paulsen

No member of the Minnesota congressional delegation has received less attention in the national media since Paulsen was first sworn into office in 2009.

Ex-Pawlenty Supporter Hubbard Has Given Thousands to Bachmann (and Democrats) Over the Years

The Hubbard Broadcasting head and his wife have donated significantly to Michele Bachmann and Democratic candidates over recent election cycles.

Pawlenty Defeats Klobuchar? Don't Hold Your Breath

Sitting or former Minnesota governors have lost 11 of 12 U.S. Senate campaigns since popular vote elections were introduced 100 years ago.

Pawlenty's Exit is Quickest in History Among 3rd Place Iowa Straw Poll Candidates

The swiftest previous departure from the GOP nomination race for a third-place finisher at Ames was 67 days after the Straw Poll.

Could Amy Klobuchar Win 60 percent of the Vote in 2012?

Only two Democratic Senate candidates in Minnesota have ever reached the 60 percent mark in state history.



Political Crumbs

Governor vs. Governor vs. Governor

The last election cycle saw five ex-governors attempt to win back their old jobs, with success stories in California (Jerry Brown), Iowa (Terry Branstad), and Oregon (John Kitzhaber). But in 1904, the State of Wisconsin saw three governors on the general election ballot: two-term Republican incumbent Robert La Follette, former two-term Democratic Governor William Peck (elected in 1890 and 1892), and former two-term Republican Governor Edward Scofield (elected in 1896 and 1898). La Follette - with Teddy Roosevelt at the top of the ticket winning the presidency - cruised to an 11.3-point victory over Peck with 50.5 percent of the vote. Scofield ran a distant fourth on the National Republican ticket with just 2.7 percent - also losing to Social Democrat William Arnold who received 5.5 percent, but beating Prohibition and Socialist Labor candidates.


A Vote for No One

More than 50,000 North Carolina residents who voted in the Tuesday's Republican presidential primary opted for 'no preference' on their ballot, or 5.2 percent. That marks the second highest percentage of those who have done so in the 40 years of the modern primary era, behind the 9.8 percent who indicated no preference during George H.W. Bush's rout over Pat Buchanan in the state twenty years ago in 1992. In 2008, 4.0 percent were likewise noncommittal, with 1.7 percent voting no preference in 2000, 3.8 percent in 1996, 1.0 percent in 1988, 2.7 percent in 1980, and 1.7 percent in 1976.


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