In a bitter fight for the Minnesota Legislature, Democrats have threatened a walkout

Source: NPR

January 11, 2025 10:18 AM ET


St. PAUL — The Minnesota Legislature is preparing for a turbulent opening on Tuesday with House Democrats threatening to walk out and the Senate set to come in with a temporary tie and no tiebreaker.

A boycott would deprive the GOP of votes needed to take control of the House ahead of a special election that could reset a tie in the chamber. After two years of Democrats holding all three levers of power, Republicans say voters sent a message by taking down the Democratic majority in the House. They're preparing to take the speaker's gavel and powerful chair positions saying they have the majority, even if it's temporary.

"There is no longer a tie in the state of Minnesota," House Republican Leader Lisa Demuth said Monday. "Democrats will be coming in with 66 members," Demuth continued, versus Republicans' 67. "What that does is that gives us an organizational majority that we fully intend to exercise. We will be showing up on Jan. 14, ready to do the work that Minnesotans have sent us to the House of Representatives to do."

Control of the chamber is important because it determines what policy moves forward. And in a budget-writing year, that comes with additional leverage.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/11/nx-s1-5252734/walz-walkout-legislature-house-minnesota