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===2002 gubernatorial campaign===

===2002 gubernatorial campaign===

Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota [[House of Representatives]] in 1992, and reelected five times. In 1998, he was elected as the state House Majority Leader. In 2002, Pawlenty was the Republican nominee for Governor. He faced strong opposition from Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) state senator Roger Moe, and [[Independent]] candidate, former Congressman Tim Penny. Opinion polls showed the race tight, however he won the election by seven percentage points, mostly by winning voters in the suburbs of [[Minneapolis]]-St. Paul.

Pawlenty was elected to the Minnesota [[House of Representatives]] in 1992, and reelected five times. In 1998, he was elected as the state House Majority Leader. In 2002, Pawlenty was the Republican nominee for Governor. He faced strong opposition from Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) state senator Roger Moe, and [[Independent]] candidate, former Congressman Tim Penny. Opinion polls showed the race tight, however he won the election by seven percentage points, mostly by winning voters in the suburbs of [[Minneapolis]]-St. Paul. As Governor, Pawlenty has balanced Minnesota's budget three times without raising taxes, despite facing record budget deficits. Governing as a [[fiscal conservative]], he enacted a property tax cap and eliminated the marriage penalty. On November 30, 2005, a $701 million projected surplus was announced, the first budget surplus for the Minnesota state government since 2001. He proposed and signed into law [[welfare]] reform that requires able-bodied people to seek work.<ref>http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/get-to-know-tim-pawlenty/</ref> Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008.

 

As Governor, Pawlenty has balanced Minnesota's budget three times without raising taxes, despite facing record budget deficits. Governing as a [[fiscal conservative]], he enacted a property tax cap and eliminated the marriage penalty. On November 30, 2005, a $701 million projected surplus was announced, the first budget surplus for the Minnesota state government since 2001. He proposed and signed into law [[welfare]] reform that requires able-bodied people to seek work.<ref>http://www.redstate.com/diaries/redstate/2008/aug/28/get-to-know-tim-pawlenty/</ref> Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association from 2007 to 2008.

Pawlenty describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On gun control he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>  

Pawlenty describes himself as Pro-Life and supports overturning [[Roe v. Wade]]. On gun control he supports statewide background checks to carry firearms.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Tim_Pawlenty_Gun_Control.htm</ref>