GOP-endorsed candidate for governor Jeff Johnson and former Governor Tim Pawlenty — who’s seeking a third term — square off in today’s Republican primary election. We asked Hamline University political analyst David Schultz, which one is more electable come November — Pawlenty or Johnson? Schultz says, “At this point… for whatever the polls are worth for the general election, they seem to suggest that Tim Pawlenty would do better [than Johnson] against any of the major Democrats running for governor, but that he would still lose by about seven to eight points.” But Schultz points out 2018 is an unusual year and it’s too early to tell how the November election might come out.
On the Democratic side, DFL-endorsed candidate Erin Murphy faces challenges from Tim Walz and Lori Swanson in today’s primary election.