![Walz Win, Omar to Congress, Mauer Retires Top Minnesota News](http://townsquare.media/site/70/files/2018/09/GettyImages-1031773592.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Walz Win, Omar to Congress, Mauer Retires Top Minnesota News
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Midterm elections that saw Minnesota Democrats retain the governorship and retake the state House made for a hot political year in 2018.
Longtime southern Minnesota Congressman Tim Walz beat two-time Republican candidate Jeff Johnson to keep the governorship in Democrats' hands. Walz succeeds Democrat Mark Dayton, who did not seek re-election.
Thanks to suburban victories, Democrats reclaimed the Minnesota House. Republicans will maintain their one-vote Senate margin, making for divided governor in 2019.
Minnesota marked another first as freshman Democratic state Rep. Ilhan Omar won a U.S. House seat, becoming the first Somali-American elected to Congress.
And a hometown hero said goodbye in 2018. Twins slugger and fan favorite Joe Mauer retired after a 15-year career, all with the Twins.
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