MN Supreme Court holds quorum hearing over House control, dueling lawsuits
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Minnesota’s highest court will hear arguments on the power struggle in the Minnesota House on Thursday in an effort to determine what constitutes a quorum - paving the way for a determination of which political party is in control.
Battle over what constitutes quorum
The backstory:
The November 2024 election of all 134 Minnesota House seats resulted in a historic tie, 67-67. So, initially, House Democratic and Republican leaders worked on a power-sharing agreement.
However, the landscape changed after a county judge ruled the DFL winner of House District 40B did not meet residency requirements to represent the Roseville area. Separately, the state’s highest court ruled Governor Tim Walz had called a special election, which would have been held later this month, prematurely. Now, that special election is expected to take place sometime around March.
With that vacant seat, currently, House Republicans have a one-seat advantage with 67 members to House Democrats' 66 members.
The 2025 session of the Minnesota House opened on Jan. 14, but has yet to truly begin with both parties present.
Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the session on opening day because he said quorum was not met.
Upcoming Supreme Court arguments
What's next:
The question before the Minnesota Supreme Court is to help resolve what constitutes a quorum – the number of members needed to conduct business.
Since opening day, Democrats have been boycotting the session because they do not want a quorum established while the GOP has a temporary advantage. DFL interprets quorum as a majority of 68.
House Republicans have been operating as if a quorum has been met with 67 members present, and have moved forward on their own with a speaker and committees.
"As far as the power-sharing piece, I have been very, very clear with Rep. Hortman that if they do return to a 67-67 tie, I would like to work with them and restore some co-chairs in some of the committees, restore equal membership in some of the committees, and work together in a power-sharing as that," said Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring.
"Power sharing is not we’re going to give you something, and you should feel good about those things. Power sharing is we work together as a team, to divide the work evenly and to collaborate. Instead of pretending one party is in a superior position to the other," said Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park.
Arguments will be heard by the state Supreme Court on Thursday. There will be a lot more to come, even if the state’s highest court does decide to make a ruling on this matter.