A delay in determining the next governor could affect a variety of key issues in Minnesota:
STATE BUDGET
Republicans and DFLers have dramatically different plans for dealing with a projected $6 billion budget deficit. How they proceed depends on who is governor and has power to sign or veto a budget bill.
HEALTH CARE
A governor will need to make a decision by Jan. 15 on whether to accept $1.4 billion in expanded Medicaid money. Pawlenty and Emmer oppose doing so, while Dayton favors it.
REDISTRICTING
Redrawing legislative and congressional districts for the 2012 elections is a politically contentious exercise because it has the potential to make or break candidates.
