In many cases, DFLers simply got caught in an undertow in districts that are fundamentally split in their political allegiances; in some, like rural Senate District 16, they handed back control of districts no one had expected them to win in the first place; in others, it appears, they failed to take steps to protect incumbents who faced discernible pockets of Republican opposition.

Peter Marker, an attorney running for a judgeship in the 10th Judicial District, feels like he is campaigning against someone new every day. With 24 candidates on the ballot for the Washington County post, and almost the same number of days before the general election, that just might be true for him in the next few weeks.

Prior to the 2006 elections, the people of Senate District 56, which covers much of Woodbury and north-central Washington County, had an entirely Republican delegation in St. Paul. But when the votes were counted that year, the district's Republicans - two representatives and one senator -had all been swept out of office, victims of a pro-DFL swing that averaged 11 points in each of the area's three legislative races.

Former state Sen. Brian LeClair, who most recently has been an aide to Gov. Tim Pawlenty, is running for a seat on the 10th Judicial District bench.