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DFL Members, Secretary of State to Supreme Court Petition on Republican Actions in Minnesota House

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DFL Members, Secretary of State to Supreme Court Petition on Republican Actions in Minnesota House

ST. PAUL, Minn. — In a petition to the Minnesota Supreme Court: Democrats in the state House are accusing Republicans of acting “illegally” when they conducted business in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, including electing a speaker, without DFL members present.

The DFL representatives boycotted the start of the session in the midst of bitterness power conflict between the two political parties. The 67-67 tie in the House was broken, at least in the short term. after a judge ruled a DFL candidate who won a seat in Roseville was ineligible for office due to residency requirements. A special election is scheduled for January 28.

That led to a disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over what constitutes a quorum: the minimum number of members needed to conduct business in the State Capitol. Republicans argued that 67 members meet the threshold because of the vacant seat, while Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon say 68 members are needed, which the Republican Party did not have when they met on the first day of the session.

When the session began on Tuesday, Simon adjourned the House due to a lack of quorum. Republicans pressed ahead anyway, electing Republican Leader Lisa Demuth as speaker and conducting other business in the House. The DFL petition states the GOP acted “in blatant disregard of the Minnesota Constitution” and Demuth’s election and subsequent cases “must be nullified by the Minnesota Legislature” Supreme Court.

The petition also asks the court to prevent Republicans from taking further action until 68 members are present. Simon made a similar request on Tuesday, arguing that the House lacked a quorum when the Republicans organized as a majority, which meant that Demuth’s election was illegitimate and Simon himself, as Secretary of State, remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Demuth responded to both petitions in a statement.

“As a member of the executive branch, Secretary Simon has no authority over the proceedings of the House of Representatives, and his role is strictly ceremonial in nature,” she said. “There is ample precedent in the Minnesota Supreme Court and the framers of the Minnesota Constitution regarding quorum. We look forward to defending the House against this attack on our constitutional separation of powers, and ensuring that the Minnesota House continues its important work on behalf of the states. Minnesotans who elected us to show up and do our work.”

Republicans filed a separate filing with the state Supreme Court to delay the special election for the Roseville seat, House District 40B. The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments in that case on Wednesday.

This story is developing and will be updated.

Note: The above video originally aired on January 14, 2025.

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