Minnesota House control hinges on Tuesday's election

State of play: Democrat David Gottfried and Republican Paul Wikstrom are vying for House District 40B, which covers Roseville and part of Shoreview.

• Polls are open from 7am to 8pm Tuesday.

Catch up fast: The seat opened up after a judge ruled in December that DFL Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson couldn't take office because he failed to meet legal residency requirements.

• The decision upended the balance of power at the Capitol and set off weeks of heated political and legal fights that consumed the start of this year's legislative session.

Between the lines: While flipping the seat would give Republicans the coveted 68 seats they'd need to pass bills, both sides acknowledge that the political lean of the district favors Democrats.

• DFL candidates carried the district with more than 60% of the vote in the last two elections.

The bottom line: Republican Leader Lisa Demuth will remain speaker either way, under a power-sharing agreement negotiated last month.

• But a tie will limit her power, with DFL votes needed to pass bills out of committee and off the floor.