By Members of Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus
On the opening day of the 94th legislative session in Minnesota, Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned session after finding there was not a 68-member quorum required to conduct House business. Over the course of 3 weeks, House Republicans staged a legislative coup to defy Minnesota’s Constitution by holding sham sessions and taking unlawful, unconstitutional actions. Last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court handed Republicans a major defeat by striking down their illegitimate power grab. The Court ruled that a quorum in the Minnesota House of Representatives requires 68 members, meaning Republicans’ sham sessions have no legal authority, and every action they took after January 14 have no legal effect.
In an extreme and unprecedented power grab, Republicans continue to threaten the removal of a duly elected member of the House, undermining the democratic will of 22,000 voters. Now is the time for Republicans to honor the will of the voters and the rule of law. The House GOP’s attempt to seize power is not just wasting our tax dollars; it’s wasting precious time we can’t afford to lose. A state shutdown would devastate Minnesotans: families unable to pay bills, crime victims losing crucial support, infrastructure projects cancelled, and essential services decimated. This is not a game—it’s about the future of our state and the well-being of every resident. We are calling on Republicans to return to the negotiating table and abandon their partisan prerogatives, so that we can govern together as Minnesotans expect and deserve.
Republicans want to make us believe that stealing elections, disregarding court rulings, and conducting sham hearings are just part of the process. This radical path is not only dangerous but a direct assault on our democracy. Minnesotans are being told by the GOP to remain silent, to sit back and do nothing, to ignore the fear and anger rising within us. But let’s be clear: those who seek to steal our power rely on our complacency. If we let this slide, we lose. We will not stay quiet. Fear and frustration will not stop us- they will empower us to act in the face of fascism and a country being governed by an oligarchy.
It is clear that the GOP’s priorities lie not in protecting the will of voters or safeguarding the future for all Minnesotans, but in consolidating power, funneling taxpayer dollars to greedy corporations, and maintaining the status quo. These actions perpetuate systems that favor the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyday people. Our vision is different: a Minnesota where everyone—regardless of race, class, gender, or background—has the opportunity to thrive. We will continue to stand firm against these attacks on our democracy and fight for policies that reflect the values and voices of all Minnesotans.
The House POCI Caucus play an integral role in making equity a cornerstone of policymaking, prioritizing inclusion, and dismantling racism. If do not act now, the crisis’s we face in addressing housing equity, civil rights, programs supporting working families, reproductive rights, healthcare access, environmental protections, and more will be exacerbated. We are compelled to address the current situation proactively, we aim to preserve our strength and resources, ensuring we are optimally positioned to effectively counter any future threats that are already arising from the GOP’s MAGA aligned agenda. We are clear-eyed that to fight back, we must stand with the people and utilize all of our legislative tools to protect our democracy, honor the will of the voters, and build a future where everyone can get ahead, not just the rich and powerful.
The House POCI Caucus is comprised of; Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL-Minneapolis 62A), Rep. Anquam Mahamoud (DFL-Minneapolis 62B), Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul 66B), Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake 36B), Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope 43A), Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Minneapolis 59B), Rep. Ethan Cha (DFL-Woodbury 47B), Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Minneapolis 59A), Rep. Huldah Hiltsley-(DFL- Osseo 38A), Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul 67B), Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (DFL-St. Paul64A), Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth 08B), Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-St. Paul 67A), Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL-Inver Grove Heights 53A), Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul 65B), Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis 60B), Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul 65A), Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis 63A), Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center 38B).