By Thom Little, Ph.D.
Following the election of November 5, 2024, after Democrats lost three seats, it appeared that the Minnesota House was going to be tied– 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. A month later, there was a tentative power-sharing agreement with each party electing a Speaker -Designate and all committees having Democratic and Republican Co-Chairs and balanced membership. Both Speaker-Designates expressed hope that the two parties could work together.
According to Republican Lisa Demuth, “This is the opportunity for us to work together with our colleagues, the Democrats, across the aisle and find ways to best serve Minnesotans,” “So, I just echo a lot of the things that Leader Demuth said, I think that there will be an opportunity for us to show Minnesotans some good bipartisan working together and getting things done,” Democrat Melissa Hortman said. It seemed like the “Minnesota Nice” touted during the 2024 Presidential election was intact.
However, a decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court declaring that Democrat Curtis Johnson did not reside in district 40B as required by the Minnesota Constitution, forced Curtis to vacate the seat, giving the Republican party a one seat majority (67-66) until a special election could be held. With this turn of events, Republicans declared that their one set majority voided the power-sharing agreement and enabled them to organize the chamber. Democrats, on the other hand, argued that Republicans were still one seat short of the 68 seats necessary to declare majority status, and temporary presiding officer Secretary of State Steve Simon agreed and adjourned the House, voiding Republican efforts to elect Demuth the speaker as Democrats boycotted the opening organizational session. So much for “Minnesota Nice.”
Governor Tim Walz scheduled the election to replace Rep. Johnson for January 28, but responding to a suit by the Republican party, the Minnesota Supreme court ruled the governor scheduled the election prematurely. In addition to questions about District 40B, Republicans also challenged the 14-vote victory of Democrat Brad Tabke (District 54A) when it was discovered that 20 absentee ballots were unaccounted for and believed accidentally shredded. Republicans demanded a special election to fill the seat, but a judge declared Tabke the winner after election officials contacted 12 of the absentee voters and determined there were not enough votes to change the outcome. Despite the judge’s decision, Republicans refused to seat Tabke.
So, for more than three weeks, Democrats boycotted the session, denying Republicans the quorum necessary to organize the chamber. Republicans claimed Democrats were failing to fulfill their constitutional obligation to govern the state and Democrats accused their Republican counterparts of denying the will of the people by organizing the chamber while the electorate voted for shared power. Democrats proposed that Republicans could control the chamber until the special election returned the House to a tie and then return to the initial power-sharing agreement. Because there was no precedent for re-organizing the chamber mid-session, Republicans proposed they should maintain control even if the special election resulted in a tie.
For three weeks, Democrats denied the chamber a quorum while negotiations dragged on (and off). Finally, on Monday, February 10, the two parties announced an agreement to end the stalemate by which Democrats would end their boycott enabling the House to get to work. Republican Demuth would be the Speaker of the House for the entire session with a few minor limitations (regarding appointments to state commissions), Republicans will chair all standing committees until the special election (assuming the Democrat wins). Republicans agreed not to challenge the election of Rep. Tabke and following the special election, all standing committees will have Democratic and Republican co-chairs and partisan balance, with the exception of a new committee to address waste and fraud in state governments which will maintain a Republican chair and majority.
As with any good compromise, both parties could claim some victories. “Having a Republican speaker with very little limitations over the next two years is a huge win for Republicans, it is a huge win for Minnesota” Republican Speaker Demuth declared. On the other side, Democratic Leader Hortman claimed, “This agreement honors and protects the will of the voters both in Shakopee and statewide. That is what Democrats have been asking for from the beginning and I’m pleased that this agreement does that.” Hortman called the deal a balanced one, as no bills will be able to reach the House floor without cooperation between the parties when a tie returns.
The process was difficult and painful at times. Tempers flared. Proposals were made. Negotiations sputtered. But, with the final agreement, each side got something of value and neither side got everything. Republicans got the speakership and a committee to address fraud and abuse and Democrats got a promise that Rep. Tabke would be seated and partisan balance on all other standing committees once the chamber returns to a tie. That is the way compromise is supposed to be. Now, get to work for the people of Minnesota.
