ST. PAUL-U.S. Rep. Tim Walz, a Democrat, and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, a Republican, cruised to victories in the Tuesday, Aug. 14, primary for Minnesota governor. Here`s how each won, according to the tale told by the voting data, as well as analyses and observations from political observers. In short, Johnson pulled off a convincing upset of former two-term Gov. Tim Pawlenty by beating him throughout much of the state, with a final margin of victory of 9 percentage points, revealing a likely shift in the Republican party since Pawlenty left office in 2011. Walz`s victory over state Rep. Erin Murphy and state Attorney General Lori Swanson was more complicated - and the...
|
