ST. PAUL — Eight first-term Republican members of the Minnesota Senate say they don’t appreciate Gov. Mark Dayton calling them extremists.

The lawmakers held a Capitol news conference Wednesday to react to comments the Democratic governor made a day earlier.

Dayton blamed a budget stalemate on “extreme right-wing caucus members” in the GOP majorities.

Sen. Ted Lillie of Lake Elmo says he and his classmates are “average Minnesotans” and “mainstream.”

Minnesota is facing a special session and a possible government shutdown because of the budget dispute between Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature.