http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party_strength_in_U.S._statesDems have both houses by moderate margins.
My understanding is that Minnesota is a lot like the other Midwestern states. Lots of working class whites who suffered through an industrial decline, are still receptive to government intervention in the economy, and who see Republicans like Romney as more concerned with the upper class. The idea behind Tim Pawlenty the presidential candidate was that he would run as a "Wal-Mart Republican" who could win whites in the working class.
