Minnesota Legislative Races Take Center Stage for Dems

ST. PAUL  (AP) - The fight for control of the Minnesota Legislature has a new urgency for Democrats gathering in Rochester for their state convention this weekend.

About 2,700 party activists will meet at the Mayo Civic Center on Saturday to endorse U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar for a second term and pick delegates to the Democratic National Convention.

Democrats are seeking to win back control of both legislative chambers after losing to Republicans two years ago.

Governor Mark Dayton is asking voters to put Democrats back in charge of the Legislature after clashes with Republicans led to a 20-day government shutdown.

The Democratic Farmer Labor party and its allies are making usually obscure contests for House and Senate seats into a priority this year.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)