ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Thursday, Minnesota House Democrats made their return to the state Capitol, concluding a more than three-week standoff with Republicans that had stalled the chamber’s official business. This development followed the establishment of a power-sharing agreement that outlines how both parties will govern moving forward.
Under the newly reached accord, House Republican leader Lisa Demuth from Cold Spring will be formally elected as speaker for the next two years. This appointment marks a historic moment as Demuth becomes the first person of color to hold this position in the chamber’s history.
Since January 14, all 66 Democrats had boycotted House sessions to block a quorum of 68 members necessary for operations. The conflict began after a court decision in December ruled that a Democratic candidate resided outside of their district, inadvertently giving Republicans a slender one-seat majority and disrupting the initial power-sharing negotiations that had assumed a 67-67 tie.
A special election to fill the vacant seat has been scheduled for March 11, and analysts suggest that the Democratic candidate is favored to win, potentially returning the House to a 67-67 deadlock. Following this election, committee leadership will be shared equally between both parties, although Republicans will lead a specific committee focused on eliminating fraud in governmental programs.
The agreement also calls for limitations on the speaker’s traditionally extensive powers. Critical decisions, such as determining which bills are presented for debate, will require consensus from both parties, ensuring that Demuth cannot single-handedly obstruct legislation.
In her statements to the press, Demuth expressed her commitment to a collaborative leadership approach, in stark contrast to the previous two years under Democratic control. “It really felt like conservative voices were pushed out,” she acknowledged during a news conference. She aims to recognize the challenges faced by the minority and to administer the speaker’s role with fairness, while still maintaining the institution’s integrity.
While Republicans claimed to have secured substantial concessions during negotiations, Democrats argued that the final agreement resembled their previous proposal made before the session began. Brooklyn Park Democrat Melissa Hortman, a former Speaker, expressed frustration regarding the time spent reaching the agreement, saying, “That it took nearly four weeks to reach this agreement is regrettable and was unnecessary.” She emphasized the need to honor voter intentions and promote bipartisan collaboration from the outset.
Historical context shows that tied chambers are not uncommon. The last instance of such a tie in Minnesota House history occurred in 1979, resulting in a power-sharing structure after weeks of discussions. This past arrangement functioned adequately for most of the session but ultimately faltered towards the end, requiring a brief special session for legislators to finalize necessary legislation.
As part of the recent deal, House Democrats received assurances from Republicans regarding a Democrat who won reelection in a contentious district by a margin of merely 14 votes, where approximately 20 ballots were unaccounted for. An ethics committee is set to review this situation but will refrain from any further actions.
In a related political maneuver, the Republican Party of Minnesota has intensified efforts to recall all 66 Democratic representatives. When asked if the recall movement would end following the return of House Democrats, Jennifer DeJournett, the party’s executive director, did not provide a definite answer. She indicated that the intricate recall process in Minnesota could span 10 months, leaving it up to party leaders to decide the campaign’s fate.
