The Minnesota House chamber. Photo courtesy of Minnesota House Public Information Services.
Republicans flipped three key swing districts in the Minnesota House, making the party breakdown an even 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats, according to preliminary election results. If the results stand, this would mean an end to the two-year Democratic-Farmer-Labor trifecta control of state government.
At least two House Districts, 54A in Shakopee and 14B in St. Cloud, had margins that were decided by a dozen or more votes — meaning there will likely be a publicly funded recount.
House Speaker Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, did not concede control of the chamber as of early Wednesday morning, urging Minnesotans wait until all votes are counted. Hortman in a statement said, “it’s important to be patient while we wait for results to be finalized.”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, on social media said Republicans broke up the DFL’s trifecta, but they could still gain a few more seats pending a recount.
The Minnesota House was last tied in 1979, with 67 DFL members and 67 Independent-Republicans, as today’s Republicans were then called. House members began the 1979 session with amicable negotiations, but it ended in bitter fighting — resulting in a one-day special session, according to House Public Information Services.
Minnesotans can again expect gridlock if Tuesday’s election results remain unchanged, as Democrats still control the Minnesota Senate and the governor’s office.
Since 2023, Republicans have attacked the DFL’s progressive agenda, decrying increases in spending and taxes, as well as new mandates on business. The 2023 session is widely regarded as the most consequential in half a century. Among the list of grievances and programs Republicans opposed the most: The state’s new paid leave program; the $452 million (before interest) renovation of the State Office Building, which is where House members’ offices are; and a 38% increase in the state’s biennium budget.
With an end to the DFL’s trifecta, Demuth said the House GOP caucus’ priority will be to restore balance to the Legislature.
“Over the last two years, there was not open debate, but really the minority party at the time had our voices shut down,” Demuth said. “We want to make sure that every voice is represented at the Capitol, and with (a split Legislature), we know that it is going to take compromise and working together and that’s what we’re ready to do.”
The House will have to work with Senate Democrats and Gov. Tim Walz to craft a two-year budget before a June 30 deadline, after which a government shutdown looms. In 2023, DFL lawmakers passed a $72 billion budget — the largest budget in state history, which included some one-time spending.
The state’s budget agency has said that projections show the state’s revenues will not keep up with spending, resulting in a potential “structural imbalance” of $1.5 billion by 2027, but lawmakers could use potential surplus money to offset the imbalance.
Demuth’s caucus includes some hard right members who will likely seek to roll back Democratic programs — and use the threat of a government shutdown as leverage.
Republicans and Democrats will have to work together to accomplish anything, which may prove difficult after Democrats consistently steamrolled Republicans for two years.
In the sole Senate seat on the ballot Tuesday, DFL candidate Ann Johnson Stewart won her race over Republican Kathleen Fowke, continuing the DFL’s one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate. Johnson Stewart, a civil engineer, previously served as a senator from 2020 to 2022.