Candidate profiles

More than any other candidate for governor, Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, has made his mark championing "Good Government" legislation. He pushed successfully for campaign finance reform and to ban lobbyists and interest groups from gift-giving to public officials.

First elected to the Senate in 1986, Marty, 53, is one of the most senior legislators at the Capitol and a vocal advocate for single-payer health coverage. His party's nominee in 1994, Marty lost by a 2-1 ratio to Republican Arne Carlson.

A former House minority leader, Entenza emphasized improving workers compensation and unemployment insurance, gaining high marks from unions. Entenza, 48, of St. Paul, served in the House from 1995 through 2006, when his political career was derailed after news surfaced that he'd hired an opposition research firm to investigate DFLer Mike Hatch. Entenza withdrew his bid for attorney general, later creating the think tank Minnesota 2020, which argued that the state was sliding toward mediocrity.

Entenza's early campaign ads have pushed for spending on wind, biomass and solar energy production along with other investments.

After six terms in the House, including two as speaker, Margaret Anderson Kelliher has become a top-tier contender for her party's endorsement. She's faced down Gov. Tim Pawlenty in budget negotiations and won plaudits from her party for engineering a rare override of his veto. But she's had bumps, including a legislative logjam last year that some say opened the door for Pawlenty's solo budget cuts.

Kelliher's pitch: She knows the ways of the Capitol and will be ready to govern on Day One. She's picked up support from unions, many sitting lawmakers and other local and national groups.

Two-term Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak wants to leverage his work as a big-city chief executive into a successful gubernatorial bid.

With 23 years in the Legislature, Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, has become a legendary figure among the Iron Range delegation. Passionate and outspoken, Rukavina tangled regularly on the House floor with onetime House Minority Leader Tim Pawlenty.

A former steel miner, Rukavina has never wavered from his populist message of better jobs, better education and a cleaner environment. He has secured endorsements from several labor unions and fellow Iron Ranger U.S. Rep. James Oberstar.

If you've voted in Minnesota before, you've seen Savior's name. He's sought statewide offices for nearly two decades.