TIM PAWLENTY was first elected governor in 2002, with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget deficit — the largest in state history. Just months after Pawlenty took office, the legislature adopted his plan to eliminate the deficit without raising taxes. In 2005 and 2007, Governor Pawlenty balanced the state budget again without raising taxes.

Besides bringing Minnesota from historic budget crisis to financial security, Pawlenty fought for and oversaw passage of a dramatic overhaul and improvement of the state's education standards; a significant increase in K-12 education spending along with a nation-leading teacher performance pay program; health care reforms that led to a zero percent premium increase in the state insurance program; signicant welfare reform; a range of new government efficiency initiatives; creation of a nation-leading prescription drug website; and a doubling of the state's ethanol standard to increase use of renewable fuels and reduce dependence on foreign oil.