Mark Dayton held a career in public service in Minnesota that spanned five decades.

He is well known for serving two terms the state’s governor, leaving office in 2019. Before that, Dayton’s career included stints as a state agency official, state auditor and U.S. senator.

Dayton talked with MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst to reflect on his career and discuss his new memoir, titled "Perseverance." In this conversation, Dayton recounts his personal challenges and his time as governor. He also revisits his call to increase taxes on the wealthiest Minnesotans — a campaign promise he fulfilled— and his role in legalizing gay marriage in the state.

Also on this episode: election season is underway in Minnesota. On the ticket is an open governor’s race, an open U.S. Senate seat and the full state legislature. Both of the state's major party chairs join the conversation to share their political lay of the land as voting begins.

Guests:

• Mark Dayton served as the 40th governor of Minnesota. He also served as U.S. senator and Minnesota state auditor.
• Alex Plechash is chair of the Minnesota Republican Party.
• Richard Carlbom is chair of the Minnesota DFL Party.
• Dana Ferguson is a politics correspondent for MPR News.
• Peter Cox is a senior politics reporter for MPR News.

Subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

Two candidates vying to be Minnesota’s attorney general met Friday in their first debate.

DFL incumbent Keith Ellison, who is after a third term, and Republican Ron Schutz, an attorney, went head-to-head over issues defining their intense and increasingly expensive race.

Republicans last won a Minnesota attorney general’s race in 1966, although Ellison won by small margins in his past two elections.

On this special edition of Politics Friday, MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst moderated the Minnesota attorney general debate.

Guests:

• Keith Ellison is a DFLer and a two-term attorney general.
• Ron Schutz is a Twin Cities attorney who is prominent in GOP circles.

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation or subscribe to the Politics Friday podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.

A new senator will emerge from Election Day no matter what because there is no incumbent on the ballot.

The two major party candidates are here for their first — and possibly only — one-on-one debate. Friday at noon, the DFL Party’s nominee, Peggy Flanagan, and Republican nominee, Michele Tafoya, went head-to-head on the issues in a debate moderated by MPR News politics editor Brian Bakst.

Guests:

• Peggy Flanagan is the state’s 50th Lieutenant Governor, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and the U.S. Senate Democratic nominee.
• Michele Tafoya is a former sport broadcaster and the U.S. Senate Republican nominee.