Editing Tim Pawlenty (section)

===2006 reelection===
{{Main|2006 Minnesota gubernatorial election}}
Pawlenty ran for reelection in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|author=Hohmann, James|title=Once a goalie, Tim Pawlenty plays offense|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45624_Page2.html|publisher=Capitol News|work=Politico|access-date=April 20, 2011}}</ref> Conservatives criticized him on funding issues, in particular two pieces of legislation for stadiums for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Gophers]] and [[Minnesota Twins]], and bond issues for public transit, including the Northstar commuter rail line.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/06/02/pawlentyendorse/|title=Pawlenty accepts Republican endorsement for re-election|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=June 2, 2006}}</ref>

The race included [[Minnesota Attorney General]] [[Mike Hatch]], of the DFL; [[Peter Hutchinson (politician)|Peter Hutchinson]] of the Independence Party; and Ken Pentel of the [[Green Party of Minnesota|Green Party]]. Pawlenty won, defeating Hatch by less than one percent, though both the state House and Senate gained DFL majorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/11/07/mngov/|title=Hatch concedes; Pawlenty barely wins re-election|author=Laura McCallum|publisher=Minnesota Public Radio|date=November 8, 2006}}</ref>