How much is your vote worth?

$3.82, if you're a Minnesota resident, according to an analysis of the 2004 election cycle in the state by The Institute on Money in State Politics.

Almost $27 million was raised by candidates. In the House elections, those who won raises rased an everage of $36,028 and those who lost raised almost half that - $19,776.

Republicans were slightly more prolific in fundraising, but most of that is because of money that poured into Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who wasn't on the ballot in 2004.

The top contributor, was you, in the form of the public subsidy to candidates. But the top candidate was Rep. Denise Dittrich, who raised an astounding $98,364. She knocked off inbumbent Reublican Bil Hass by fewer than 1,000 votes in 47A.

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In terms of special interest contributions, these were the top:

Contributions Total $ Percent of Total

Public Subsidy 494 $1,709,949 6.44%

Party 926 $595,148 2.24%

Labor 709 $218,735 0.82%

Candidate Contributions 537 $198,539 0.75%

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 704 $164,415 0.62%

Lawyers & Lobbyists 520 $120,017 0.45%

Health 512 $119,762 0.45%

General Business 337 $87,505 0.33%

Transportation 157 $45,782 0.17%

Other/Retiree/Civil Servants 201 $44,661 0.17%

Communications & Electronics 176 $42,361 0.16%

Construction 150 $31,797 0.12%

Agriculture 159 $29,989 0.11%

Energy & Natural Resources 90 $20,565 0.08%

Ideology/Single Issue 43 $14,553 0.05%

Defense 6 $290 0.00%