Preview: Caucus day tomorrow
Minnesotans will have their first chance to signal who they like so far in the governor's race when all three major parties hold caucuses throughout the state on Tuesday.
The caucuses will give voters an opportunity to cast preference ballots in the gubernatorial race. They will also decide who to send to party conventions, at which party leaders will endorse candidates.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty decided not to run for re-election this year, leading more than two dozen people to come forward to try to replace him. Most of the candidates don't have a chance, but many already serve in public office or have served in the past.
Seven Republicans and 10 Democrats will have their last chance Monday to appeal to a large audience when they speak on MPR's Midday. The Democrats will be guests at 11 a.m., and the Republican candidates will be on at noon.
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Both parties are holding caucus meetings in neighborhoods throughout Minnesota, where participants will also have a chance to discuss party platform. The Independence Party of Minnesota plans to hold an online caucus event that will include a preference ballot for the governor's race, in which five people are running for the Independence Party nomination.
The DFL holds its endorsing convention in April, while the Republican Party plans to endorse a gubernatorial candidate May 1. Republicans in the race have said they won't continue their campaigns after that without the party endorsement, but at least three serious DFL candidates -- Mark Dayton, Susan Gaertner and Matt Entenza -- have said they will keep running until the primary.
You can find you caucus location here.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
