Democrats offer compromise; Republicans declare they will disregard Secretary of State Steve Simon as presiding officer on first day of session

Saint Paul, Minn. – Republican state representatives Lisa Demuth and Harry Niska sent a chilling new letter sent to Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon on January 13, 2025, that details their plan to violate state law and ignore Secretary Simon’s authority as the presiding officer.   

On January 10, Secretary of State Simon sent House DFL and Republican leaders a thorough letter detailing legal precedent establishes that 68 members constitutes a quorum to conduct House business. The Secretary cited legal authority including the Minnesota Constitution and state statute that support his conclusion that a 68-member quorum is required to conduct House business. House Republicans have 67 members, and are not legally entitled to conduct business as the Minnesota House of Representatives.

Republicans are apparently unwilling to accept the long-standing and clear rules governing the Minnesota House because they grant Minnesota House Democrats the ability to deny quorum and block action. Rather than negotiate with Democrats, Republicans are threatening to disregard the Minnesota Secretary of State’s legal authority to convene the session and preside as is outlined in Minnesota Statute 3.05.

“It is extremely concerning that Republicans are escalating this situation to the point where they declare they will take unlawful action to ignore Minnesota’s secretary of state and conduct a kangaroo court in the Minnesota House of Representatives,” said DFL Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman. “Republicans are trying to use a two-week, one-vote edge to seize control of the Minnesota House for two years. This would ignore the will of the voters."

“Democrats have offered a compromise that would allow Republicans to control the House for the time period during which they have a one-vote edge, even though Republicans do not have 68 votes and do not have a majority,” added Hortman. “Then, after the chamber is tied again at 67-67, we would revert to the power-sharing arrangement we negotiated. We think this is a reasonable compromise and hope Republicans will choose to return to negotiations rather than further escalating conflict.” 

The two leaders are set to meet later today for a negotiating session.