in the state elections of 2012, during which all members of the legislature (but not the governor) were up for election, the shutdown was a major campaign issue. the republicans lost their majorities in both houses of the legislature, giving the dfl full control of the state government. kurt zellers and other republican legislators said the shutdown probably was one reason for their electoral defeat. however, other national and state issues may have had more of an influence on the result. the presidential race was also on the ballot, as were the proposed minnesota marriage amendment and voter id amendment, which had been put on the ballot by the legislature in 2011. all of these ballot items increased the turnout of dfl-leaning voters.