Rocked by accusations of domestic abuse, Ellison has fallen behind former Minnesota Republican state legislator Doug Wardlow, according to a poll this week. And while each candidate has tagged the other as too far outside the mainstream to be the state’s top law enforcement official, in reality the race revolves around Ellison and what voters make of the misconduct allegations he’s facing.

The outcome could have consequences far outside the state as attorneys general across the country have taken a critical role in fighting many of President Donald Trump’s policies in court. Democratic attorneys general sued to stop Trump’s travel ban from several Muslim majority countries as well as his family separation policy for undocumented immigrants…

Those numbers suggest that the election has become a “referendum on Keith Ellison,” said Minnesota Republican strategist Ben Golnik, who is not involved in the race.