MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Democrat Lori Swanson has beaten Republican Chris Barden to win a second term as Minnesota attorney general.

Swanson, who has focused on consumer protection, survived a rough start to her first term. She took criticism for giving her predecessor Mike Hatch a spot on her staff after he lost his race for governor in 2006.

Barden, an Edina attorney and psychologist, had hoped to become the state’s first Republican attorney general in 40 years.