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GOP businessman Mike McFadden will face Sen. Al Franken in fall

GOP Senate hopeful Mike McFadden speaks to supporters during a victory party Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn. (Associated Press)
Associated Press

In a midterm year where which party controls the U.S. Senate will headline Election Day, businessman Mike McFadden swept to an easy victory Tuesday for the Republican Senate nomination in Minnesota.

McFadden argued he was the only candidate who could raise enough money to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce promised “aggressive” spending for McFadden when it endorsed him earlier this month, and the national party tapped McFadden to deliver its weekly radio address last Saturday.

Minnesota governor

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson emerged from a four-way Republican primary field for the right to take on Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

Johnson had won the party’s endorsement, which meant a presumed edge in the phone bank and door-knock operation – a key in a low-turnout election.

Johnson faces a tough campaign against Dayton, who has scored well in approval polls and enjoys a state economy that’s outperforming most of its neighbors. Dayton also can point to legislative achievements that include a minimum-wage increase and legalized gay marriage.

Wisconsin governor

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is back on the ballot this fall, seeking re-election to an office he’s already won twice – first in 2010, and again in a 2012 recall election. And if he wins in November, he could be on ballots again in 2016 as a candidate for president.

Former Trek Bicycles executive Mary Burke easily won the Democratic nomination to face Walker.

Bachmann’s replacement

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s retirement is a plum for the winner of the Republican primary – a perch in Minnesota’s most conservative district that could last for years.

Tom Emmer, who lost the 2010 governor’s race to Dayton by some 9,000 votes, cruised to victory in the GOP primary for the 6th District seat being vacated by Bachmann.

Connecticut governor

Businessman Tom Foley won the Republican primary for governor of Connecticut, setting up a rematch with Democrat Dannel Malloy, who narrowly defeated him four years ago and is seeking a second term.