A legal challenge to a Minnesota House seat has resulted in Republicans gaining a temporary majority in the state's lower chamber. The shift comes after a Democratic representative-elect, Curtis Johnson, chose not to appeal a judge's ruling that deemed him ineligible to serve due to residency issues.
This decision grants Republicans a slim 67-66 advantage when the legislature convenes on January 14th. However, this majority is poised to be short-lived, as Governor Tim Walz has scheduled a special election for January 28th to fill Johnson's seat in the Democratic-leaning district.
Johnson's resignation followed a ruling by Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro, who determined that Johnson had not resided in the Roseville-area district for the required six months prior to the election. Evidence presented by his Republican challenger, including surveillance footage, supported the claim that Johnson's declared apartment was not his primary residence.
Republican Representative Lisa Demuth, poised to become House speaker, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, stating it ensures a valid candidate will represent District 40B. This shift in power has halted previous bipartisan efforts to create a power-sharing arrangement in a chamber that was initially predicted to be evenly split.
Despite the temporary loss of a majority, Democrats remain confident that they will reclaim the seat in the upcoming special election. They point out that Governor Walz's veto power will help balance the legislature. While Republicans will gain committee control, enabling them to push their agenda forward, Democrats will still have enough votes to stop them.
A separate court challenge related to a different suburban district could also impact the House's balance of power. However, Democrats appear likely to retain this seat, as multiple voters testified that they voted for the winning Democrat. The court is expected to make a ruling on that case in the coming weeks.
