House DFLers fear that the Republicans will use their slender majority to unseat DFL Rep. Brad Tabke of Shakopee because of the loss of 20 absentee ballots in a race that he won by 14 votes and call for a special election. A district court recently ruled that Tabke won the seat, but that hasn’t dissuaded the GOP from threatening not to seat him.

The legislative session in Minnesota opened Tuesday to a brutal proxy fight and a Democratic-led boycott over who will control the House chamber after voters in November sent an equal amount of Democratic and Republican lawmakers to the state House.

After the MN GOP filed a request to nullify incumbent Representative Brad Tabke’s election win, a judge on Tuesday rejected the request, solidifying Rep. Tabke’s win.

House Republicans have elected a speaker but the DFL is asking the state Supreme Court to intervene. At issue is whether 67 seats are a majority or whether 68 are needed.

Gov. Tim Walz is urging lawmakers to end a power struggle that has disrupted the first week of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session.

The unprecedented start of the legislative session went on with the usual pomp and formality of years prior. As if the Democratic half of the chamber weren’t empty, and the rules on how to proceed not the source of vehement dispute.

House Democrats have boycotted the opening day of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session in an effort to stop Republicans from exploiting a temporary majority to advance their agenda.

House and Senate Republicans balked at Walz’s recommendations and signaled they would resist any new taxes or fees.

As expected, Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon appealed to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to declare that Republicans aren’t able to elect a speaker or conduct any other business without 68 members present.

Preparing for a possible walkout Tuesday, the DFL swore in members over the weekend, which the GOP called an illegal action.

Half the House stood empty on Tuesday when the state Legislature convened for its session and Democrats didn't show up amid a bitter power dispute.

I n the 2006 Minnesota general election, Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty defeated Democratic Attorney General Mike Hatch, 46.6%- 45.7%, with third parties taking the rest of the vote