Minnesota House Tied Again as Democrat Wins Special Election

Minnesota House Tied Again as Democrat Wins Special Election \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Democrat David Gottfried won a Minnesota special election, restoring a 67-67 tie in the state House and ending a brief Republican majority. The election followed a court ruling that disqualified Curtis Johnson over residency issues. With the House now evenly split, both parties must collaborate to pass the state budget. Republicans will retain House Speaker Lisa Demuth under a new power-sharing agreement.

Minnesota House Deadlock Quick Looks

• Democratic Win Restores Tie: David Gottfried’s victory in House District 40B creates a 67-67 split.
• Power-Sharing Agreement: Republican Lisa Demuth remains House Speaker despite the tie.
• Special Election Necessitated by Court Ruling: Democrat Curtis Johnson was disqualified over residency issues.
• Budget Challenges Ahead: A $6 billion deficit looms over the next four-year fiscal period.
• Democratic Stronghold: Gottfried’s district overwhelmingly supports Democrats, with Kamala Harris winning 68% of votes there.
• Divided Government Returns: The GOP’s November gains ended full Democratic control of Minnesota’s government.

Deep Look

The Minnesota House of Representatives is once again evenly divided, as Democrat David Gottfried won a special election on Tuesday, restoring a 67-67 tie in the chamber. The result ends a brief Republican majority that emerged after Democrat Curtis Johnson was disqualified over residency issues.

The new balance of power forces both parties to negotiate key legislative priorities, including the state budget, which faces difficult negotiations due to shrinking revenue projections.

Why This Election Happened

The special election in House District 40B, covering the northern St. Paul suburbs of Roseville and Shoreview, was held after a state court ruled that Democrat Curtis Johnson did not meet residency requirements.

• November 2024 Election: Johnson won with 65% of the vote but was later disqualified.
• Legal Challenge: Republican Paul Wikstrom, who lost to Johnson in 2024, challenged his residency in court.
• House Majority Disrupted: Johnson’s disqualification briefly gave Republicans a 67-66 majority.
• Democratic Boycott: Democrats walked out of the House for three weeks, protesting the GOP’s attempt to capitalize on its sudden majority.

Gottfried’s Victory and the New Power Dynamic

Gottfried’s decisive win over Wikstrom restores a 67-67 tie, forcing a bipartisan approach to legislation.

Recognizing the inevitability of a Democratic victory, both parties negotiated a power-sharing deal in February that assumes a divided House for the next two years.

Key provisions of the power-sharing agreement:

• Lisa Demuth (R) will remain House Speaker despite the tied chamber.
• Committee Leadership Will Be Split evenly between both parties.
• Republicans Will Control the Oversight Committee investigating government fraud.

Budget Negotiations Ahead: A Difficult Road

With the House now evenly split, passing legislation requires 68 votes, meaning both parties must collaborate.

• State Surplus Shrinking: Minnesota’s two-year budget surplus has dropped to $456 million.
• Future Deficits Rising: The state faces a projected $6 billion deficit for the following fiscal cycle.
• Bipartisan Deal Necessary: Without a clear majority, Democrats and Republicans must compromise to pass funding bills.

Minnesota’s Political Shift: Divided Government Returns

For two years, Democrats held a “trifecta” of power in both legislative chambers and the governor’s office under Gov. Tim Walz.

However, Republican gains in the November elections ended full Democratic control, returning the state to divided government, which has been the norm for the past 30 years.

While Democrats still hold a one-seat majority in the Senate, they will now need Republican cooperation in the House to pass major legislation.

District 40B: A Democratic Stronghold

Gottfried’s victory in House District 40B was widely expected, given its deep blue political history.

• Curtis Johnson (D) won 65% of the vote in 2024 before his disqualification.
• Kamala Harris carried the district with 68% of the vote in the 2024 presidential race.
• The district remains one of the most reliably Democratic areas in Minnesota.

What’s Next?

Now that the House is officially split 67-67, legislative negotiations will determine how effectively the state government operates over the next two years.

• Gottfried will be sworn in soon, formalizing the even split in the House.
• The new power-sharing agreement will take effect, shaping how bills move forward.
• Budget talks will dominate early 2025, as lawmakers face economic challenges.

Minnesota now finds itself at a political crossroads, with bipartisanship necessary for governance—but whether lawmakers can work together remains to be seen.

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