Minnesota Democrats stage boycott over ‘abuse of power’ by Republicans

Democrats in the Minnesota house of representatives refused to show up to start a legislative session on Tuesday in an unprecedented move designed to boycott attempts by Republicans to take advantage of a temporary majority in the chamber.

The house came out of the November election tied 67-67, and top leaders from both parties started to work out a power-sharing agreement that presumed a tie. But a judge late last month declared that a newly elected Democrat did not live in his heavily Democratic district.

That gave the Republican party a 67-66 majority until a special election can take place in two weeks. Republicans declared their intent to take full advantage until the tie is restored.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Republicans are pressing ahead on their agenda over the objections of the secretary of state, which will probably lead to lawsuits to intervene.

The Minnesota senate is also temporarily tied after the death of a Democratic lawmaker, but party leaders in that chamber have agreed to share power.

Democrats lost their government trifecta in the November elections. The trifecta allowed them to pass a raft of progressive legislation in 2023 and 2024, giving the Democratic governor, Tim Walz, national acclaim that eventually helped him secure a spot on the presidential ticket.

The GOP lost a round in the power struggle earlier on Tuesday when a judge rejected a Republican effort to force a special election in a different race that the Democratic incumbent representtive Brad Tabke won by only 14 votes after about 20 ballots went missing in the district. Republicans had threatened to use their power to refuse to seat him. Minnesota law gives the legislature final discretion in whether to seat Tabke.

The top house leaders, Democratic former speaker Melissa Hortman and Republican former minority leader Lisa Demuth met late into the night on Monday and again on Tuesday morning to try to resolve the impasse ahead of a floor session that started at noon.

Hortman said in a statement that Republicans indicated they would not seat Tabke, ignoring the court ruling, which is why Democrats decided not to show up and give Republicans the quorum needed to make their move.

“We cannot allow Republicans to engage in this unprecedented abuse of power, and we will use every tool at our disposal to block it,” she said.

Under Minnesota law, the secretary of state calls the house to order at the start of a session, declares whether a quorum is present, and hands over the gavel when a speaker is elected. It is normally a quick formality.

On Tuesday, the Democratic secretary of state, Steve Simon, stood before the Republicans gathered for the session and said: “There is no quorum as required by the constitution of the state of Minnesota. The House may not conduct any further business, and the house of representatives is adjourned.”

Republicans dispute his legal analysis, arguing that the vacant seat means a quorum is just 67. They began a session anyway and started electing members to serve in leadership roles and on committees.

The Republicans’ actions – and Democrats’ decision not to attend the session – will probably be subject to legal complaints given the unprecedented nature of what is happening.

Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic national committee, said Republicans were attempting to disenfranchise Minnesota voters.

“Minnesota Republicans are now attempting to subvert the will of the people and ram through Republican leadership in the state house when they did not win a majority of seats,” Harrison said in a statement. “We stand with Minnesota House Democrats who are fighting to ensure the people of Minnesota have the representation they elected.”

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee also announced Tuesday that it would invest $100,000 in the Minnesota House Democrats and help support Democrat David Gottfried in the special election set for later this month.

This is the first time the Minnesota legislature has faced such a boycott, but similar stalling tactics have been used elsewhere.

Democrats in neighboring Wisconsin went into hiding in 2011 in a standoff with majority Republicans over union rights for public employees. Oregon Republicans staged multiple walkouts in recent years, including a record six-week walkout in 2023 over bills on abortion, gender-affirming care and gun rights.

The top Democrat in the Michigan house last month ordered absent members back and barred the doors after a Democrat joined Republicans in skipping out.