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Pawlenty elected governor
by Michael Khoo, Minnesota Public Radio
November 3, 2002

Republican House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty has won his bid to be Minnesota's next governor. Unofficial returns show Pawlenty leading DFL rival Roger Moe 45 to 36 percent. Independence Party candidate Tim Penny was trailing a distant third with 16 percent of the vote. The Green Party's Ken Pentel finished with just over 2 percent.

St. Paul, Minn. —

	Tim Pawlenty shares his victory Tuesday with his running mate, Carol Molnau. (Photo courtesy of startribune.com)

Republican House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty has won his bid to be Minnesota's next governor. Unofficial returns show Pawlenty leading DFL rival Roger Moe 45 to 36 percent. Independence Party candidate Tim Penny was trailing a distant third with 16 percent of the vote. The Green Party's Ken Pentel finished with just over 2 percent.

Tim Pawlenty took the lead soon after polls closed Tuesday night. He held his first-place position through the night and into the early morning hours. Shortly before 3 a.m., Pawlenty emerged from his room at the Bloomington Radison to accept his new mantle as governor-elect.

Pawlenty praised his opponents for their commitment to public service, and reiterated his campaign themes in front of an enthusiastic crowd of supporters.

"I ran for governor because Minnesota needs a tough, principled leader who's going to guide our state through tough times -- and we live in tough times. I ran for governor because we need a leader who's going to revitalize our economy and bring jobs -- good-paying jobs -- back to our state and hold the line on taxes," Pawlenty said.

In the final days of the election, polls showed the gubernatorial race narrowing to a two-man contest between Pawlenty and DFL Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe. During his concession speech, Moe drew sharp contrasts between the two campaigns -- and made not-so-subtle references to Pawlenty's trouble with campaign finance rules, his no-tax pledge, and TV ads that singled out temporary immigrants.

	DFLer Roger Moe concedes defeat in the governor's race Tuesday night. He closes out his political career as well, having served 32 years in the state Senate. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

"This campaign played by the rules -- number one. Secondly, we did not make promises that we will not be able to keep," Moe said. "And third -- we ran postitive, issue-oriented ads designed to pull us together, not divide us."

Moe, who served 32 years in the state Senate, says his career as an elected official will now come to a close, but he says he'll try to maintain some role in public policy.

Former DFL congressman-turned-Independence Party candidate Tim Penny is also bowing out of politics. Penny finished a distant third after taking the lead in the governor's race early last summer.

Penny, who was recruited to run by Gov. Jesse Ventura, says his campaign was hurt by Ventura's decision earlier this week to appoint a political ally to fill the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's seat, as well as by polls that showed his support waning. Penny was the IP's best chance to build on Ventura's 1998 election. Despite his loss, Penny says he expects the party to grow.

"I think we brought more definition to the party and its message this year. And we'll try to build on that," Penny said. "I'll play some role, certainly, because I'm not going back to the Democrats. I'm happy to be independent. I've become increasingly independent throughout my eight years away from politics, and I'm happy with where I'm at."

Penny's showing means the IP will maintain its major party status -- but the Greens may not have been so lucky. Candidate Ken Pentel finished well below the 5 percent threshold, as did the party's other statewide candidates.

	Independence Party candidate Tim Penny interrupted his own concert to announce his concession. At left is his running mate, Martha Robertson.

Pentel, who was making his second run at the governor's office, says he's not sure if he'll run again, and he says building a strong third party will take time.

"We're going against historical momentum. Some of these ideas -- we're asking people to look in the mirror. We're asking them to make sacrifices," Pentel said. "Yes, they may not want to hear it the first time. But they may let it sink in, and they go, 'You know what? That makes sense and I'm willing to make a choice.'"

The four-way race means Pawlenty will become Minnesota's next governor with less than 50 percent of the vote, although he polled higher than Jesse Ventura did four years ago. Pawlenty says he and running mate Carol Molnau will work to include Minnesotans or all persuasions.

"I'm not going to be the governor and Carol's not going to be the lieutenant governor of 40-some percent of the people, or 60 percent of the people, or 80 percent of the people. We're going to be the governor and lieutenant governor for all the people in Minnesota," Pawlenty said.

Pawlenty says he'll begin his transition work later Wednesday, and he says he hopes that will include a visit with outgoing governor Jesse Ventura.

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