KEY POLITICAL DATES IN 2010
TUESDAY
What happens: Voters begin selecting delegates to the state party conventions and vote in nonbinding gubernatorial straw polls.
Why it's important: Candidates for governor will begin to get a sense of how well they are doing with voters.
THURSDAY
What happens: The 2010 legislative session starts.
Why it's important: Lawmakers meet for intense wrangling over the budget and borrowing and to try to score with voters.
APRIL 23
What happens: DFL convention in Duluth.
Why it's important: Delegates will formally endorse a gubernatorial candidate.
APRIL 29
What happens: GOP convention in Minneapolis.
Why it's important: Delegates will endorse their gubernatorial favorite.
For more key days, turn to A6
MORE KEY DATES
MAY 17
What happens: Last day of the regular 2010 legislative session.
Why it's important: Any legislative business not finished will have to wait until 2011 unless Gov. Tim Pawlenty calls a special session.
AUG. 10
What happens: If legislators move up the primary from September, as expected, Minnesotans will likely go to the polls.
Why it's important: Voters will pick candidates for the November general election.
NOV. 2
What happens: General election for governor, constitutional officers, Congress, state House and Senate.
Why it's important: All the campaigning from candidates, all the appeals from interest groups, all the pleas for support, everything the 2010 political year was about comes down to this: You will decide who will lead you.
RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
