Good morning, and welcome to a fall Thursday. Let’s take a look at the Digest.

1. Some Minnesota legislators want a special session to put the breaks on skyrocketing premiums for people who buy health insurance on the individual market. The state Commerce Department announced last week that rate increases would range from 50 to 67 percent, and officials from both parties say that’s unsustainable. But there are no easy solutions, and Republicans and Democrats were bickering Wednesday over who is to blame. (AP via Pioneer Press)

2. Democrats are running five rematch races this November featuring Minnesota House DFLers who were beaten in 2014. They’re counting on higher voter turnout in a presidential election year to help them turn the tables Nov. 8.Republicans hold a 12-seat advantage over Democrats, 73 to 61, now in the Minnesota House. Democrats need to gain seven seats to win majority control. So while winning all five of the rematches wouldn’t be enough to get them there, it would get them very close. (MPR News)

3. The DFL candidate for an open northern MinnesotaHouse seat has paid for an ad in a local newspaperthat contradicts the account of his ex-wife, who said that he beat her when they were married more than three decades ago.JeraldLoud is running in District 2A. His ad says “many false accusations were made” in the divorce, and that he had no money for an attorney. Earlier this year, Loud did not dispute his ex-wife’s account, instead releasing a statement that read in part: “I’ve never claimed to be perfect, and I’m not proud of every decision I have ever made, but I have learned from those mistakes, and as I have grown into adulthood I have continued to better myself and the community.” DFL officials have distanced themselves from his campaign. (Star Tribune)

4. Fewer than half as many people watched Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate as watched the first presidential debate. The estimate is that about 37 million people tuned in, compared to more than 84 million who watched the presidential debate. Tuesday’s debate had fewer viewers than any vice presidential debate since 2000. (Politico)

5. Some Republican leaders are worried Donald Trump’s post-debate slide in the polls will hurt the party’s chances of keeping control of the Senate. From the story: “Mr. Trump has already slipped perceptibly in public polls, trailing widely this week in Pennsylvania and by smaller margins in Florida and North Carolina - three states he cannot afford to lose. But private polling by both parties shows an even more precipitous drop, especially among independent voters, moderate Republicans and women, according to a dozen strategists from both parties who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the data was confidential.” (New York Times)