Minnesota Legislature Faces Power Uncertainty Ahead

The Minnesota Legislature faces uncertainty as it approaches the start of the 2025 session on January 14, following the death of DFL Senator Kari Dziedzic and ongoing legal challenges regarding House seats. A special election to fill Dziedzic's seat will occur on January 28, alongside another for a House seat in the Roseville area, where a court ruled that DFL candidate Curtis Johnson could not take office due to residency issues. Currently, the Senate is tied 33-33, while Republicans hold a temporary one-vote majority in the House, leading to differing interpretations of their power. House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth asserts that this majority allows them to organize and elect a speaker, though Democrats contest this claim. Additionally, a legal contest for House District 54A further complicates the situation, with Republicans seeking a new election after a close race. The dynamics within the legislature could shift significantly based on the outcomes of these special elections and ongoing legal matters.