Minnesota Democrats look to run down clock until new member restores tie

LAUREN TAYLOR: Who controls the Minnesota state House? The answer might depend on who you ask.

After an Election Day where both Democrats and Republicans tied with 67 seats apiece, a vacancy put Republicans with a 67-66 lead when the legislature started Monday. 

And Democrats have left the Capitol, in an effort to force Republicans to abide by a power-sharing agreement the two sides made until a special election in two weeks likely restores the tie.

In the absence of 66 Democrats, Republicans voted in a Speaker, a decision which would give them power to set the House’s agenda and decide who runs House committees.

But it’s unclear whether the vote was legal. Republicans said that with one vacancy, their 67 members reached the requirement for a quorum of the majority. But Minnesota’s Democratic Secretary of State said the vote was illegal.

Republicans, in response, said that House Democrats’ move to swear their members in off Capitol grounds in a private ceremony was also illegal.

But two issues remain with the seats – Democratic State Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson gave up the seat he won after a court ruled he didn’t meet the residency requirement to represent his district. A special election to fill the seat will occur on January 28th and Democrats hold a strong advantage in the district.

And Republicans have weighed blocking re-elected State Rep. Brad Tabke, a Democrat, from taking his seat, after he won an election by 14 votes. With the race going to a hotly contested recount, Republicans have considered forcing a special election.

Minnesota Republicans say state law would allow them to launch petitions to recall the Democratic legislators.

And it’s not the first time state legislators have fled to try to block their opposing party from wielding power. Oregon Republicans and Texas Democrats have used the tactic in recent years.

For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

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