DULUTH — Something different is about to happen in a Minnesota governor’s race: A head-to-head debate.

For the first time in two decades, the Democratic and Republican nominees were gearing up to go one-on-one.

Incumbent Gov. Mark Dayton and GOP rival Jeff Johnson were due to meet today on a debate stage in Duluth. The local chamber of commerce sponsoring the debate didn’t invite Independence Party nominee Hannah Nicollet.

Minnesota voters have grown used to seeing three or more candidates in governor debates because it has had between three and four major parties since the 1990s.

The Reform Party’s Jesse Ventura used his inclusion in debates to vault to a surprise win in 1998. Other third-party nominees have been staples in general election debates since.