Minnesota House GOP attempts power grab: ‘The Minnesota Nice version of Jan. 6’

In St. Paul, chaos erupted in the Minnesota Legislature after Republicans attempted to start the new session — despite a boycott by the Democratic Farmer-Labor members (DFL) denying quorum. 

State DFL representatives refused to start the session, elect a speaker and make committee appointments because Republican lawmakers have decided that their temporary 67-66 mini-majority in the Legislature, which will likely evaporate following a Jan. 28 special election, grants them the ability to dominate the political body for two years. Additionally, the boycott comes over fears that Republicans will refuse to recognize the victory of Rep. Brad Tabke, who narrowly defeated his GOP opponent by less than 20 votes. Before a judicial ruling on Tabke’s race Tuesday morning, Republicans had used the legal limbo to claim they held a majority. 

BREAKING: In a half-empty chamber, Minnesota House DFL members follow through on their pledge to boycott a House GOP power grab. Republican leaders refused to seat a duly-elected Democrat despite a court ruling this morning in an effort to take full control of a split chamber. pic.twitter.com/J33hglMe8b

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 14, 2025

“We have to accept election results even when we don’t like them. And Republicans want to do this kind of crazy revisionist version where they just throw out election results if they don’t like them, and we can’t let them trample over our democracy in that way,” said DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman.

Such efforts by the GOP come after the two parties initially brokered a deal to share power. This mirrored a similar agreement amongst a divided Minnesota Senate, one that was seamlessly executed following the death of Minnesota Senate DFL leader Kari Dziedzic last month. Much like the House, a special election will help determine the direction of the Senate. 

Given that the Minnesota Constitution requires a quorum of 68 for the Legislature to conduct business when there are 137 members, the DFL believed they could stymie the Republican’s efforts to grab full control of the Legislature before the special election. 

“State law is clear: swearing in happens at noon on the day the legislature convenes; any attempt to subvert that is illegitimate,” said GOP House Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth following the announcement of the DFL boycott. 

Lacking the constitutionally required quorum, the Democratic secretary of state, Steve Simon, proceeded to adjourn the session. “There is no quorum as required by the constitution of the state of Minnesota. The House may not conduct any further business, and the House of Representatives is adjourned.”

However, in a move destined to be challenged in the courts, Republican members seized the rostrum and sought to be sworn in without the presence of their DFL counterparts. In a bizarre scene, GOP lawmakers sat across from empty aisles that normally seat their opposition.

Instead, the liberal caucus was separately sworn on Sunday night, two days before the official beginning of the legislative calendar.

BREAKING: Defying both a court ruling and adjournment from the Secretary of State, Minnesota House Republicans seize the rostrum and attempt to elect their own permanent House speaker. pic.twitter.com/wBtP7p3JK2

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 14, 2025

“Normally, the Speaker is sworn in by a judge. In the sham proceeding that just happened, Republicans had Rep. Paul Anderson ‘swear in’ Leader Demuth as ‘Speaker,’” Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) in a social media post. 

“I’m sure this is because no judge was willing to participate in a blatantly unlawful event.”