Dayton ushers in 1st Minn. Dem admin in 2 decades

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Gov.-elect Mark Dayton's inauguration

brings a changing of the guard that has a Democrat coming back into

power in Minnesota for the first time in 20 years.

Dayton was to take his oath Monday at Landmark Center in St.

Paul. His swearing-in will break what had become the third-longest

Democratic drought for a governorship in any state.

The 63-year-old is Minnesota's oldest rookie governor. He'll

enter office opposite a Legislature where Republicans will control

both chambers.

Dayton survived a close election and recount to beat Republican

Tom Emmer and the Independence Party's Tom Horner in November.

Connecticut, which like Minnesota had gone without a Democrat in

the role since 1991, also elected one in November. The states with

longer Democratic outages are South Dakota and Utah.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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