Pawlenty was a member of the Eagan City Council (1990-1992) before becoming a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives (1993-2003), four years of which he served as the Majority Leader (1999-2003). In 2003, Pawlenty succeeded Jesse Ventura to become the 39th Governor of Minnesota (2003-2011), for which he served two terms.
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Jim Cole/AP Photo
Former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, speaks during a We the People candidates forum on April 30 in Manchester, N.H.