Republicans gain temporary control of Minnesota House after Democrat decides not to appeal ruling
ROSEVILLE, Minn. — Republicans will start the year with at least a temporary majority in the Minnesota House after a Democrat decided not to appeal decision of the judge that he failed to establish residency in the suburban district he was elected to represent.
That means Republicans will have a slim 67-66 majority in the House of Representatives when parliament opens on January 14. That might not last long, because Gov. Tim Walz has already scheduled a Jan. 28 special election in the Democratic-leaning district, which Curtis Johnson won by 30 points in November.
“While I disagree with the District Court’s conclusions, I recognize that regardless of the appellate decision, the final decision belongs to the Legislature, where it appears that there is no viable path for me to retain my seat ,” said Johnson. his resignation letter Friday. “Rather than drag this out any further, I have decided to resign now so that a special election can be held as soon as possible.”
Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro ruled last week that Johnson has not lived in the Roseville district for the required six months prior to the election and is therefore ineligible to serve.
Johnson’s Republican challenger, Paul Wikstrom, presented surveillance videos and photos in court to show that Johnson was not living in the apartment he claimed as his residence. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the lack of electricity connections and the regular activity in the apartment reinforced this conclusion.
Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth, who is poised to become speaker of the House of Representatives with the Republican Party in charge, said she is glad the judge’s decision will stand. Earlier, leaders of both parties had worked out a power-sharing agreement as the chamber was expected to be evenly divided 67-67.
“This confirms that Republicans will have an organizational majority on day one, and we look forward to ensuring a valid candidate represents District 40B in the upcoming legislative session,” Demuth said in a statement.
Although Democrats argue that Republicans need at least 68 seats to control the House. or pass laws.
Democrats should be able to stop Republicans from passing laws, but the Republican Party could still push its agenda. Republicans will have working control over committees tasked with bringing bills to the floor, which could force Democrats from swing districts to make tough decisions on bills. And Republicans could try to launch investigations they’ve been seeking for a long time the Walz administration and problems it has had in mitigating fraud.
Democrats had expected to have a one-vote lead in the Senate, but that chamber is now evenly divided at 33-33 after former majority leader Senator Kari Dziedzic died of cancer on Friday. There will also be a special election for her Democratic-leaning district in Minneapolis, but that has not yet been scheduled.
Demuth also questioned whether Walz has the power to set the special election so quickly, even before the Legislature has approved the vacancy. If that argument prevails, it would extend Republican control of the House of Representatives beyond that of the Secretary of State told Minnesota Public Radio that Walz’s order establishing the special election is correct.
Whenever an election occurs, Democrats are confident they will win the seat, current House Speaker Melissa Hortman said.
“A snap special election will allow District 40B voters to ensure they will be represented in the Minnesota House for most of the session,” Hortman said in a written statement. “We expect the district will once again vote by overwhelming margins to elect a Democrat.”
An ongoing lawsuit in a several suburbs could also affect the balance of power in the House of Representatives, but it appears Democrats are likely to prevail in that dispute. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke of Shakopee was declared the winner by 14 votes over Republican Aaron Paul, despite 20 missing ballots that were accepted but never counted and then apparently thrown out. At a hearing, his lawyers presented six of the affected voters who testified that they supported Tabke, which would be enough to secure his victory. The judge is expected to decide within weeks how to proceed.