Minnesota

Minnesota is a critical battleground for control of the House (and a great barometer for the 2018 elections as a whole). Democrats are on offense in the affluent and well-educated 2nd and 3rd districts, which are fertile territory for Democrats to flip some seats in their quest for the majority. But President Trump carried both Minnesota's 1st District, in the rural southern part of the state, and 8th District, in the northern Iron Range region, by double digits in 2016 -- they are the GOP's best shots to pick up seats currently held by Democrats. Sen. Al Franken's resignation last year after allegations of sexual misconduct means that Minnesota will hold two Senate elections in 2018. Democrats are confident that Sen. Amy Klobuchar is widely expected to win her third term, but the special election to serve the rest of Franken's term could be a little more competitive. Sen. Tina Smith (D), appointed last December, is running against Republican state Sen. Karin Housley. With all that, plus a competitive gubernatorial race between Rep. Tim Walz (D) and former state lawmaker Jeff Johnson (R), it'll be a busy night in the North Star State.