Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) Elected: November 2002, 2006 Term expires: January 2011  | State capital: St. Paul |  | State nickname: The North Star State |  | Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau (R) |  | Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (D) |  | Attorney General Lori Swanson (D) |  | Senate President: James Metzen (D) |  | House Speaker: Margaret Anderson Kelliher (D) | | | | |