Minnesota House gets back to work after 3-week stalemate
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Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold-Spring) was sworn-in as speaker. Screenshot: Minnesota House Info
On the 24th day of the 2025 legislative session, the Minnesota House got to work — for real this time.
State of play: For the first time in over three weeks, enough members showed up at the Capitol to officially gavel in the 134-member chamber and get to business.
- Republican leader Lisa Demuth was elected speaker as part of a power-sharing deal announced late Wednesday, becoming the first person of color to ever hold the role.
Why it matters: The agreement brought an end to a political dispute that had paralyzed the House, threatening to delay or derail action on the budget and big issues.
Catch up fast: Lawmakers first reached a framework for a power-sharing deal late last year, after the election delivered a rare tie in the chamber. But a judge's ruling in a residency case that gave the GOP a temporary 67-66 advantage upended the situation.
- Rifts over who should be in charge and the fate of Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee), whose narrow victory was marred by ballot irregularities, led Democrats to boycott the start of session to prevent Republicans from hitting the 68-member threshold.
- The stalemate resulted in several court challenges — including one that blocked the GOP's effort to hold solo sessions and elect Demuth speaker on their own — and weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
Zoom in: Under the agreement, Demuth could be speaker for the full two-year session, even if a March special election returns the chamber to a 67-67 tie.
- Republicans will control committees until that new member is seated. If a Democrat wins as expected, they'll switch to co-chairs.
Plus: Democrats secured assurances that Republicans won't be able to boot Tabke on their own and some limitations on Demuth's power to act unilaterally.
- Republicans, meanwhile, will maintain the majority on a new anti-fraud committee for the full two years.
What they're saying: Both Demuth and DFL Leader Melissa Hortman said Thursday they're hopeful both caucuses can mend fences and show they can govern collaboratively.
Yes, but: The two sides still held separate news conferences on the agreement Thursday, with Republicans claiming victory over the DFL's concessions and Democrats saying the deal was essentially the same as the one they offered weeks ago.
- Hortman acknowledged that there's still anger over the way the start of session was handled.
The big picture: Democrats' narrow edge in the Senate and control of the governor's office means Minnesota was always going to return to divided government regardless of whether the House ended up with a Republican majority or a tie.
- That means lawmakers will need bipartisan deals to pass the budget and other bills, regardless of who is speaker.
The bottom line: Leaders will have to work together to pass a budget by the Legislature's May 19 adjournment.
- If they fail to get it done on time, they'll have to convene a special session before a June 30 deadline for a state government shutdown.