Jobs and the economy dominate voters' thinking as the race for governor heats up, according to a new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll.

Nearly two out of five of the 800 residents polled said "jobs and the economy" would be their top issue.

But other concerns are looming: Nearly one-quarter of respondents said health care would be their top issue. Efforts to reform health care have dominated the national political conversation for years, beginning with Obamacare in 2010 and efforts to repeal it ever since.

Taken together, jobs and the economy and health care were the most important issues for 62 percent of Minnesotans, according to the poll, framing the upcoming election as one largely about economic and health care security.

Taxation is the most important issue to 12 percent of Minnesotans, while immigration is the top concern of 6 percent, according to the poll.

One-in-five respondents said a different issue is most important or said they aren't sure.

Jobs and the economy are most important in Hennepin and Ramsey counties, the suburbs and greater Minnesota, among men and women, upper and lower income and younger and older residents.

Only DFL voters, potentially reeling from recent Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare, gave a slight edge to health care.

J. Patrick Coolican