A dramatic power struggle unfolds at the Minnesota State Capitol as House Republicans and Democrats clash over leadership and procedural legitimacy.
According to MPR News, the conflict escalated when Republicans elected Lisa Demuth as House speaker with 67 votes on Tuesday, while 66 Democrats boycotted the session to deny a quorum.
The political confrontation has now moved beyond the legislative chamber into the judicial arena, with both parties preparing for court battles. Secretary of State Steve Simon has requested the Minnesota Supreme Court's intervention to declare the Republican-only session unlawful, while House DFL leaders have filed a separate lawsuit challenging Demuth's election as speaker.
Republicans maintain their actions were legally sound, arguing that 67 members are sufficient for conducting House business since there are currently only 133 certified members. They have directly challenged Simon's authority, preventing him from entering the House chamber when he attempted to convene a session on Wednesday afternoon.
The House Rules Committee, comprised solely of Republican members, approved a resolution to retain attorneys for defending Demuth and the GOP against legal challenges. Representative Harry Niska recused himself from the vote due to his connection with the attorneys through his law firm.
Democratic Leader Jamie Long has raised concerns about potential financial benefits for Niska, while Democrats have stated their court challenge will be funded through campaign donations.
The dispute extends to an upcoming special election in District 40B, which could determine whether the chamber remains evenly split or shifts to a Republican majority. Governor Tim Walz has scheduled the election for January 28, but Republicans are seeking to delay it.
The vacancy arose after the previous election winner, a Democrat, withdrew due to residency issues. Republicans argue that the election cannot be expedited since the previous winner never officially held the position.
The Minnesota Supreme Court has scheduled arguments for January 23 to address the legality of Tuesday's session and related matters.
In contrast to the House's turmoil, the Minnesota Senate has begun its session smoothly under a power-sharing agreement. The arrangement includes co-chamber presidents and equal committee representation, with both parties agreeing that commissioner confirmations and bill votes require joint approval.
Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson emphasized the collaborative nature of their approach. He stated:
Nobody had those gotcha moments. Think less of like a WWE conversation and more like an escape room where we're just trying to figure out how to make this work together to get to an end goal.
Governor Tim Walz has expressed concern about the House proceedings, with his spokesperson stating:
As much as House Republicans may want to govern as a single party, the law is the law and the House is not in session. House Republicans need to assure Minnesotans that they won't overturn an election or take power voters didn't give them.
The Minnesota House faces an unprecedented leadership dispute as Republicans and Democrats pursue legal action to resolve their differences over chamber control and procedural legitimacy. With Secretary of State Steve Simon seeking Supreme Court intervention and House DFL leaders challenging the Republican-led speaker election, the resolution lies in upcoming judicial decisions.
