St. Paul, Minnesota – In a significant victory for Democrats, a special election on Tuesday night resulted in a tie in the Minnesota state House, putting an end to a power struggle that had been ongoing in the Legislature for months. The win in the 40B state House district, a stronghold for Democrats located in the northern suburbs of St. Paul, means that both Democrats and Republicans will now hold 67 seats each, leading to a continuation of the power-sharing agreement that was reached between the two parties back in February.
The Democrat, David Gottfried, emerged victorious in the special election, defeating Republican Paul Wikstrom. The special election was triggered by a state court ruling that deemed the previous Democrat winner of the district, Curtis Johnson, ineligible due to residency requirements not being met. Johnson’s removal had briefly given Republicans a one-seat majority in the state House.
Gottfried’s win now prevents Republicans from gaining more influence to counter Democratic priorities in the state government, especially with Democrats currently holding the governorship and a slim one-seat majority in the Senate. This latest development is just one part of the ongoing political saga in Minnesota, which saw a Democratic walkout turn into a weeks-long boycott, as well as a court ruling that left the seat vacant for an extended period.
In a strategic move to wrest control of the chamber, Republicans had aimed to capitalize on their temporary majority following Johnson’s removal. However, Democrats foiled their plan by staging a walkout in January, resulting in a delay to the start of the legislative session. The standoff continued until February when both parties agreed to the new power-sharing arrangement, anticipating a tied chamber after the special election.
As part of the agreement, Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth will serve as the speaker for the next two years, and both parties will co-chair the House’s committees, ensuring equal representation from Democrats and Republicans on each. Additionally, House Republicans pledged not to take any action to remove Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke, whose November victory came under scrutiny after officials discovered absentee ballots that had been mistakenly discarded.
The outcome of the special election has not only reshaped the balance of power in the Minnesota state House but also underscored the ongoing political tensions and maneuvers between Democrats and Republicans in the state. With a tied chamber, the parties will need to navigate this new phase of governance through cooperation and compromise to effectively address key issues facing the state.