Ousted Democrats seek rematches to retake the chamber from Republicans.

Sitting in his St. Paul office overlooking the Minnesota state Capitol, Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Keith Downey says there was a point in his life when, in his “wildest dreams,” he never would have imagined sitting at the helm of a state political party.

Republicans have traditionally opposed Minnesota’s political contribution refund program, which was reinstated on Monday when the state’s new biennial budget took effect. In fact, it was GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty who successfully proposed scrapping the program four years ago. But despite their dislike for state-subsidized political contributions, Republican candidates and party units disproportionately benefited from the program during the two decades that it was in place.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s budget-trimming decision earlier this year to eliminate the state political contribution refund (PCR) program discontinues a public subsidy that has been popular with legislative candidates, especially incumbents.

A self-described