Dear Neighbors, As I'm sure you're aware, today marked the beginning of the 2025 legislative session. Since the November election, I've been working with my colleagues across the political spectrum to prepare for this year, and I've found collaboration and bipartisanship in many policy spaces. As Governor Walz has said, find compromise without compromising your values. Unfortunately, running parallel with that has been acrimony over how this year was going to start, and we've seen some of that first hand today. It's important to me that every community across Minnesota has a voice, and that everyone is represented within our democracy. This last November, Minnesota voters elected an equal number of Republican and Democratic state representatives. Since then, leaders on both sides have been working out a compromise where there is shared, equal power. The last offer made to Republicans would grant them control of the House until a special election taking place at the end of the month was resolved. As part of the proposal, should Democrats retain this vacant seat, we would then return to power sharing. Unfortunately, after pressure from hard-right extremists, House Republicans walked away from the negotiating table and are attempting an illegitimate power grab that could have significant long-term consequences for our democracy and for Minnesota families. During this two-week period before that special election, Republicans plan to unseat a duly elected DFL member of the House in an election that they lost, all to give themselves a do-over and seize power. That seat was the subject of litigation, but the judge ruled this morning, declaring that the DFL representative "remains the candidate with the most votes legally cast in the 2024 General Election" and "neither an injunction nor a special election is warranted or ordered." You can read more about this new development via MPR News’ coverage. Alarmingly, Republicans have stated they don't care how the judge rules and that their intent is to carry on as planned. This has never happened in our state’s history, and I will not stand for this attempt to overthrow an election. Instead of providing legitimacy to today's power grab made by House Republicans, I remained in our community, working with our neighbors to ensure their voices are heard. I will continue to remain in Mankato until there is no longer a threat to overturn an election, and a power-sharing agreement that reflects the will of the voters is reached. This is an ever-changing situation, and I welcome your questions and comments. Please feel free to contact me at rep.luke.frederick@house.mn.gov or 651-296-3248. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Luke Frederick State Representative, District 18B |