ST. PAUL, Minn. — Democratic representatives in Minnesota’s House have chosen to boycott legislative sessions, employing strategies similar to those used in various state legislatures across the U.S. on numerous occasions. This tactic is not unprecedented in Minnesota’s history either.
The Democrats aim to impede the progress of Republicans who hold a temporary one-seat advantage due to a recent vacancy in a district that typically leans Democratic. A special election is expected to balance the chamber back to a 67-67 split. In response to this situation, Democrats turned to the state’s Supreme Court for intervention, which ruled in their favor, stating that for the House to conduct business, it requires 68 members to be present, effectively compelling at least one Democrat to attend the sessions. The Senate is also seeing a temporary tie at 33 members, due to a vacancy in another Democratic district.
Historical precedents can be found dating back to 1857, when Republicans sought to relocate the capital of the Minnesota Territory from St. Paul to the newly established city of St. Peter, situated about 75 miles away. To thwart this move, a Democratic lawmaker physically appropriated the bill and concealed himself in a hotel, delaying any potential actions on the proposal.
Here are some notable examples of similar legislative stand-offs and disruptions over the last 170 years:
In 1863, Indiana faced a similar scenario where Democratic lawmakers, against the backdrop of the Civil War, attempted to wrest control of the state militia from Republican Governor Oliver Morton. Republicans, in response to Morton’s rallying cry, staged a mass exit, effectively shutting down the General Assembly, leading Morton to govern without a legislature.
In 1893, a “Legislative War” erupted in Kansas when conflicting claims of majority in the House from Populists and Republicans created chaos. Populist lawmakers locked themselves in the chamber, compelling the Republican Speaker to break down a door with a sledgehammer to regain access and ultimately confront the Populists. The state’s Supreme Court later decided in favor of the Republicans, affirming their majority.
Rhode Island underwent remarkable upheaval in 1924, amidst efforts by Democrats to rectify severe imbalances in legislative representation that had favored the Republicans for years. They attempted a lengthy filibuster to push a constitutional convention proposal through, resulting in a mini-riot and the release of noxious gas in the chambers, forcing a Republican retreat to a Massachusetts hotel.
In 1934, North Dakota witnessed a chaotic “pretended session” when a federal jury convicted the Republican Governor William Langer of corruption. Although his successor called off the special session, a quorum of House members proceeded with meetings in an unfinished building until a lack of Senate members led to a recess.
Fast forward to 1979 in Texas, where a group of liberal Democratic senators formed the notorious “Killer Bees” after protesting GOP plans to reschedule the presidential primary date. Their strategic departure from the Capitol led to a successful halt of the proposed changes.
Legislative walkouts became a recurring theme in subsequent years, such as Indiana lawmakers fleeing to Illinois in search of concessions on educational and labor matters in 2011, to protests in New Hampshire’s House amid the COVID-19 pandemic where some members disregarded health mandates.
Most recently, from 2020 to 2021, Democrats in Nebraska nearly brought their single-chamber legislature to a halt by conducting extensive filibusters, culminating in legislation that restricted gender-affirming care for minors alongside abortion restrictions. Similarly, in Oregon, a record-setting boycott by Republican senators occurred in 2023 over abortion and gender-affirming measures which led to changes in their state constitution regarding lawmakers’ re-election if they exceed unexcused absences.
In Michigan, the situation culminated in December 2024 when a Democratic lawmaker sided with the minority Republicans to skip a session, effectively bringing a post-election lame-duck session to an abrupt close, showcasing the growing tensions within Democratic ranks after Republican gains in the House.
These instances illustrate the turbulence and often extreme measures that lawmakers have taken throughout history to oppose each other’s agendas, reflecting a long-standing tradition of political maneuvering across state legislatures.
