ST. PAUL, Minn. — Leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties in the Minnesota House of Representatives have come to a power-sharing agreement late Wednesday, effectively ending a stalemate that lasted three weeks. This deadlock had been described by the state’s chief justice as rendering the chamber “completely dysfunctional.”
While specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed, top officials from both parties released a joint statement indicating that they have reached a consensus “to organize the Minnesota House effective Thursday,” with further details anticipated to be shared on Thursday morning.
Since the beginning of the 2025 legislative session on January 14, Democrats have refrained from participating in activities at the state Capitol. The Republican leadership had contended that a quorum could be established with just 67 members present, corresponding to their number of elected representatives in the House.
However, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Democratic standpoint on January 24, declaring that a minimum of 68 representatives must be on hand to conduct any legislative business, while leaving it to the lawmakers to devise a solution to the ongoing impasse.
For several consecutive days, Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon made efforts to convene the House, but with a lack of a quorum, his only option was to adjourn the session and attempt again the following day. According to state law, the secretary of state presides at the start of the House session until a speaker is chosen.
The House GOP currently has a slight majority of 67-66, a situation poised to change pending a special election announced by Democratic Governor Tim Walz for March 11. This election, set in a primarily Democratic area that includes the Roseville suburb of St. Paul, is anticipated to lead to a reestablishment of a 67-67 tie, which both parties have acknowledged was the outcome of the November election.
House Democrats had expressed their willingness to acknowledge the GOP’s temporary majority; however, they insisted on a commitment from Republicans to seat Democratic Representative Brad Tabke, whose reelection in the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee was determined by a slim margin of just 14 votes. This district is considered a swing area, where Republicans could have a strong chance of winning in a special election characterized by low voter turnout.
The Supreme Court’s ruling effectively invalidated all actions taken by House Republicans during the standoff, including the election of their preferred leader, Lisa Demuth, from Cold Spring, as the speaker.
To block a quorum, House Democrats employed tactics often seen in other legislative bodies across the country, aimed at impeding their opponents. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Senate has returned to having a slim Democratic majority of 34-33, having operated smoothly under a power-sharing arrangement for the past three weeks. Democratic Senator Doron Clark, from Minneapolis, was sworn in on Monday after winning a special election to succeed Senator Kari Dziedzic, who passed away in December.
