Known as the "L'Étoile du Nord" -- Star of the North -- Minnesota is a state of unique traditions, history and culture of politics.

From creating notable political leaders over the last half century, including former vice presidents Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey and perennial presidential candidate Harold Stassen, to electing former professional wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura as governor, some would call the state's politics "quirky," a better descriptor would be discerning. In the 2004 presidential election, 77.2 percent of eligible Minnesotans voted, the highest of any other state.

Most of Minnesota's population of 5 million comes from northern European descent, including Scandinavians, Norwegians, Swedes and Germans. Most notably, including growing populations of Hispanics and Asians, Minnesota is home to large communities of Hmong and Somali refugees.

Stemming from the upper Midwest's Scandinavian roots, which focused on issues found in welfare states, three-party politics flourished in Minnesota. The Farmer-Labor Party, which dominated state politics in the 1920s and 1930s by electing three governors and four senators, called for social security legislation, state regulation of certain industries and protections for farmers and union workers.

However, the party suffered a setback in 1938 when the Farmer-Labor Party lost to the Republicans, after suffering irreparable damages by their connections to communists.

The wounded Farmer-Labor Party then merged with local Democrats in 1944 with the help of Hubert Humphrey, mayor of Minneapolis in 1945. The newly formed Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, or DFL, was solidified with Hubert Humphrey's election to the Senate in 1948, and continued to play a major role in Minnesotan politics in succeeding years. Its base consists of blue-collar workers in the Twin Cities, in Duluth and the Iron Range, and among farmers of Scandinavian origin.

The DFL continued to lead Minnesota's economic growth for years. The influx of entrepreneurs and businesses such as Betty Crocker, 3M -- the inventor of Post-It Notes and Scotch tape, and IDS -- the first company to mass market mutual funds, helped turn Minnesota's economy from one based on raw materials to one based on services and manufacturing of goods. From 1990 to 2004, the population of Minnesota jumped 17 percent, more than any other Midwestern state.

Originally considered solidly in the Democrats' corner during the last half of the 20th century, Minnesota has shown evidence that it might be tipping toward the Republicans and is now viewed as more a swing state -- a stark shift from the DFL-dominance of Minnesota politics. Minnesota -- along with Washington, D.C. -- was the only state to not vote for Ronald Reagan during his re-election in 1984, opting for the Democratic candidate, Minnesota native and former Sen. Walter Mondale. In addition, Minnesota has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1972, making it the state with the longest streak of voting Democratic.

But by the 1990s, the DFL and Republican parties had started to nominate hard-line left-wing and right-wing candidates. This allowed suburban mayor Jesse Ventura to enter the gubernatorial race as the Reform Party's candidate. Although the race was focused primarily on personality, Ventura was able to win over Minnesotans with witty campaign ads and a more centrist platform -- promising a tax refund while remaining socially liberal. Though polls showed him trailing before Election Day, voters came out in record numbers to elect Ventura with 37 percent of the vote compared to 34 percent for Republican Norm Coleman and 28 percent for DFL candidate Hubert Humphrey.

Since then, both the DFL and Republican parties have returned to the center, making the battle for Minnesota much more competitive. In 2002, Republican Tim Pawlenty was elected governor and Coleman was elected senator, edging out Walter Mondale 50 percent to 47 percent of the vote. Convinced by grieving family members and party leaders, Mondale had stepped in as the last-minute Democratic substitute for incumbent Paul Wellstone, who was killed in a plane crash, along with his wife, daughter, and five others, on Oct. 25, 2002, just weeks before the election.

In 2004, Minnesota teetered back toward the DFL, carried by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., 51 percent to 48 percent, while Republicans lost 13 seats, nearly losing their majority in the state House.

The bulk of the Republicans' voting base is greatest in southern Minnesota and the suburbs of Minneapolis, especially in the area west of the city, and in developing outer suburban communities. Democrats still hold Minneapolis/St. Paul proper and the Iron Range and Duluth districts in northeastern Minnesota.

Minnesota has excelled in public policy, becoming the first state to implement an anti-smoking bill, introduce campaign finance reform, and also the first with authorized charter schools and school choice. Welfare reform enacted in 1995 increased spending while simultaneously creating jobs for recipients.

The state also was one of the first to have health maintenance organizations. Urban Institute studies show these policies have contributed to higher earnings, decreased poverty and better school performance in the state. The state's divorce and crime rates are lower than in most other parts of the country as well.

-- Compiled by Eddie Kim for the Online NewsHour