Court Cancels Minnesota House District 40B Election

The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled that Governor Tim Walz's decision to call a special election for House District 40B was premature, siding with Republicans and the Minnesota Voters Alliance. The court ordered the cancellation of the election scheduled for January 28, following a GOP petition arguing that the election writ was issued before the legislative session began, as required by state law. This decision maintains the Republicans' one-seat advantage in the House, as the vacancy remains unfilled due to the ineligibility of Democrat Curtis Johnson, who was found not to reside in the district. The ruling may prolong a DFL boycott and delay a potential 67-67 tie in the House, which Democrats argue is inevitable once the election occurs. Republican Lisa Demuth praised the ruling for adhering to the law, while Democrats expressed frustration over the delay in representation for District 40B residents.