Key suburban districts may decide control of Minnesota House

Like most DFL incumbents, first-term Rep. Barb Yarusso likes to talk up her party's accomplishments the past two years in the House majority.

"We had one of the most productive sessions in recent years," the Shoreview Democrat told a recent League of Women Voters forum. "We got the budget balanced. We were able to pay back the schools. We are rebuilding our infrastructure. We passed a minimum wage increase for the first time in a very long time."

Republican challenger Randy Jessup's take on the last two years was very different. He raised doubts during the forum about the economy and job growth in particular.

"The number of private sector jobs that we've added in our state has been pretty weak for 2014," he said. "In fact, we have the lowest number of private sector jobs that have been added in all of the Midwest states around us."

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The Yarusso-Jessup race may rest on how voters see those competing visions of the economy. The outcome may also shift power in the Minnesota House. The Shoreview-Little Canada districts — Yarusso's 42A and neighboring 42B held by DFLer Jason Isaacson — are among a dozen or so that Republicans and Democrats feel are in play and will decide control of the Minnesota House the next two years.

Democrats hold a 12-seat advantage after their wins in 2012. Republicans must win seven of those seats back this year to be the majority. GOP leaders say they're feeling good about their candidates and momentum heading toward Election Day.

"We feel like we have an opportunity right now, because Democrats really didn't prioritize and put Minnesota families first," said House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown. "We know that what Minnesota families want and need are more, better paying job opportunities, and that will help everybody."

Democrats are also upbeat. DFL House Speaker Paul Thissen of Minneapolis said he expects a very close election. But Thissen said he thinks voters are noticing a lack of specifics from Republicans.

"They're not really talking about the future at all. They're just talking about the things they think went wrong in the last two years. I really think people are going to be — as we close out here — more receptive to the fact that we are really much more the party of ideas this time than the Republicans are."

Thissen said he thinks about 12 districts are in play and will decide House control. Daudt said he thinks it's closer to 20.

Yarusso and other Democrats have been highlighting many of the same things: funding for all-day kindergarten, a budget reserve increase and a package of job protections known as the Women's Economic Security Act. They also point to an improving economy.

Republicans are also criticizing Democrats for tax and spending increases, construction of a $90 million Senate office building and problems with MNsure, the state-created health insurance exchange.

At a recent Chamber of Commerce-sponsored forum in Eagan, Republican Jen Wilson shared her concern about a DFL-controlled House, Senate and governor's office.

"What we're faced with right now is a complete lack of balance in our state government. We have one party in complete control of our state government, and what's lost in the process is the dialogue. It's listening to one another and working through to solutions that are not just quick fixes, but are long-term solutions."

Wilson is trying to unseat DFL Rep. Laurie Halverson in District 51B, another district that could tip the balance in the House.

Halverson, who defeated a Republican incumbent two years ago, has a voting record that insulates her from some of the standard GOP criticisms. She described herself as an independent voice for Eagan.

"It's meant that I've had to take some stands against my party from time to time, like voting against the tax bill and voting against the Senate office building and voting against MNsure," she said. "But it's also meant that I've been able to be a strong voice for our community in my caucus, and people listen."