GOP Governor Hopeful: No Senators In New Building

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — One Republican candidate for Minnesota governor says he'd try to keep senators out of a new state building planned for senators.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson staged a mock groundbreaking Thursday at the site of the $90 million office and parking complex across from the Capitol. Construction began after a bond sale this week.

Johnson is among many Republican candidates and incumbents blasting the project as wasteful. He says he'd either move to halt construction to save money or lease the completed space out for a different purpose if he's elected.

That could be easier said than done because the Senate will remain in Democratic hands no matter what happens in this fall's elections.

Johnson and other critics haven't outlined where senatorial offices would go while the Capitol renovation proceeds.