By Tom Scheck

MPR.org/90.1FM

ST. PAUL — After two years of Democratic control Minnesota is about to return to divided government.

Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, won a second term on Tuesday, but Republicans regained control of the Minnesota House. That means Dayton and Republican legislators have to work together to pass a budget and other major items. Dayton said today that he is willing to work with Republicans, but only if they toe his line.

House Republicans flipped 11 seats in Tuesday’s election. As a result, when the Legislature convenes in January there will be 72 Republicans and 62 Democrats in the House.

“I am proud to say that Democrats’ total control of state government in Minnesota is over,” said House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown.

Daudt and Republicans retook the House chamber knocking off 10 Democrats in rural Minnesota and one in the Twin Cities.

During the past two years, Republicans criticized Democrats for being out of touch with rural Minnesota. They also pledged to repeal Dayton’s income tax hikes on the state’s top 2 percent of earners and repeal MNsure, the state’s online health exchange.

On Wednesday, Daudt didn’t take as strong a stance, saying he didn’t want to outline his agenda until meeting with members. But he said he’s willing to work with Dayton and the Democrats who control the Senate.

“We want to roll up our sleeves and get to work for Minnesotans on the problems that they care about,” Daudt said. “If Democrats are on the same page, we’re going to do just fine.”