Rep. Mike Howard, DFL-Richfield, met with constituent Judy Moe, director of Richfield Disability Advocacy Partnership, at a Caribou Coffee in Richfield on Jan. 15, 2025. Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer.
Judy Moe walked into a Richfield Caribou Coffee on Wednesday morning ready to air grievances and advocate for disability rights with her state representative, presenting him with a copy of a printed agenda she created for the 45-minute meeting titled “Meeting with State Rep. Michael Howard 1-15-25.”
Moe, whose daughter is in a wheelchair, confers regularly with Howard, who’s been her House representative for six years. Howard began the conversation by asking her how she was preparing for the Minnesota legislative session — during which she often testifies on bills to lawmakers — and how she’s feeling as President-elect Donald Trump will soon take office.
She grabbed her agenda — much of which detailed her worries about budget cuts to disability services — and pointed to a line highlighted in yellow: “I am terrified!!!!!! Federal and state level!!!!!”
Howard’s Caribou meeting is one of many that House Democrats are hosting with constituents in lieu of their usual work this time of year, when they’d be typically walking the halls of the Capitol, attending committee hearings, being accosted by lobbyists and sitting through long floor sessions.
This year, however, Democrats are staying far away from the Capitol at least until the end of the month. That’s when a special election in the north metro District 40B is expected to deliver another Democratic-Farmer-Labor member and bring the chamber into a tie, 67-67. By denying Republicans a quorum — the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business in the House — Democrats hope to prevent the GOP from establishing control. They also sought to block Republicans from refusing to seat Rep. Brad Tabke, a Shakopee Democrat who won reelection by 14 votes in a contested election in District 54A.
In the meantime, they can only hope that constituent meetings like Howard’s will deflect from a barrage of attacks this week from Republicans and their allies, who are pounding Democrats for their Capitol absence.
The GOP-aligned group Renew Minnesota blasted out a release: “While Minnesota families were hard at work providing for their loved ones, House Republicans showed up at the Capitol, ready to serve. They got to work… But where were the DFL lawmakers? Absent. Missing in action. Refusing to show up for the first day of the 2025 legislative session.”
The group included the names, email addresses and office phone numbers of battleground district Democratic House members, as well as a script detailing what to say.
On Tuesday, Secretary of State Steve Simon opened the session as the statutorily mandated presiding officer. He declared that 67 members were not enough to fulfill a quorum and adjourned the session. But Republicans, acting with their temporary majority of 67-66, barreled ahead and elected their own speaker, Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and committee chairs.
“I was watching what Republicans did (Tuesday) from my computer at home. What I just kept thinking is ‘It doesn’t have to be this way,’” Howard said. “My mood is a range from frustrated, angry, sad, but also resolute that we’re doing the right thing for the people of Minnesota.”
Unable to use a House microphone, Howard has taken to social media, “Just as (Donald) Trump attempted to overthrow an election he lost, so too are the Republicans in the Minnesota House,” Howard tweeted Tuesday.
“And just as Donald Trump failed, so too will they. While Republicans ‘play House’ Democrats are standing with the people and will prevent this abuse of power.” House Democrats and Simon have appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court, asking the justices to declare that Republicans aren’t able to elect a speaker or conduct any other business without 68 members present. The high court will hear oral arguments Jan. 23.
‘I didn’t get this job to not be there’
St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter on Tuesday began his meeting with seven members of the House’s St. Paul delegation — all Democrats — by wooing them with glasses of mayoral water.
“Hydration is super important. Honestly, these are the things that you forget during session,” Carter told the group. The DFL lawmakers noted that St. Paul’s water is safer now because they passed legislation funding lead pipe removal across the state.
Rep. Athena Hollins, DFL-St. Paul, said one of her constituents wasn’t pleased.
“He told me ‘I’ve been drinking water from lead pipes for 25 years and nothing’s wrong with me!’” Hollins recalled.
Before they had to run to a virtual caucus meeting, the lawmakers heard Carter’s quick pitch: The state should spend public money to renovate the Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota Wild, and pass tax breaks for developers who turn downtown St. Paul’s defunct office space into residential buildings.
Only Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega referenced the DFL House boycott, and only subtly: “We’re kind of doing some historical things here.”
Hollins, who served as majority whip for two years, later said her constituents are supportive of her staying away from the Capitol to stop what she called a “power grab by the GOP.”
“I’m disappointed. I didn’t get to this job to not be there at the Capitol and not be doing work,” Hollins said. “I want to work with the other side of the aisle and it’s disappointing that we can’t come to a resolution that’s fair and respects the will of all the voters, so for me, it’s kind of heart breaking.”
Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL- St. Paul, said he’s received mixed messages from his constituents about his absence.
“I’m still in contact with constituents in all kinds of ways and can have meetings with constituents in the community and continue to do that,” Pinto said.
While away from the Capitol, Howard has taken to X to criticize his Republican colleagues. He said he’s been more active on social media because of the unprecedented session.
Howard acknowledges that the boycott has strained relationships with his Republican colleagues. He’s trying to preserve personal relationships, especially with Rep. Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township, with whom he hopes to co-chair the Housing committee.
“Clearly, I wish I was at the Capitol and we were working together and starting the session in a much more productive way,” Howard said. “But in terms of making lemonade out of lemons, we’re finding ways to do things that will hopefully be helpful long-term for the session.”