Dear Neighbors,
Since November, I’ve been working with my colleagues in state government and with many of you to prepare for the 2025-26 biennium and ready our state for the impact of an incoming Trump Administration. As we do that work, I want to give you an update about the important work in 2025 and the unique circumstances that require us to stay grounded in our values of an inclusive, representative democracy where every community is represented and every Minnesotan has a voice.
Next week marks the beginning of the 2025 legislative session. You may have heard news about the potential for a tumultuous start and I want to take the time to explain the situation and why my DFL colleagues and I are working to protect the integrity of our institution and the will of Minnesota voters.
This past election, Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of Democratic and Republican state representatives. Since November, DFL and GOP leadership have been working to hammer out a structure to govern the House together. Committees and committee co-chairs had been agreed upon and announced and plans for a co-Speaker arrangement were being worked out.
Unfortunately, after pressure from Action for Liberty and their MAGA base, House Republicans walked away from power-sharing negotiations about how we can co-govern and are now attempting an illegitimate power grab that could have significant consequences – for our democracy and for Minnesota families. Let me explain.
In late December, a judge ruled that a state representative who was elected this fall could not serve in his district. This vacancy means Republicans will have a one-seat plurality for two weeks until a special election in a blue district will likely return the legislature back to a tie. A majority in the Minnesota House is 68 members and this vacancy doesn’t change that. However, Republicans are saying they will use their two-week, one-seat advantage and a quirk of the rules, to seize control of the House for the next two years by electing a speaker with less than a majority of the House. Alarmingly, they have also said publicly that they plan to unseat a duly elected DFL state representative in an election they lost in order to force a special election. They are committing to overturn the will of 22,980 voters who cast their ballots and again deny the election results because they didn’t win. Throwing out an election in this manner has never happened in the history of our state.
It's not lost on me that this power grab is occurring just days before Donald Trump is about to assume the Presidency. It is our job to support and protect our communities, Minnesotans and the state against those national forces that have openly expressed hostility to our democratic freedoms and the rule of law, while demonizing our LGBTQ+, immigrant, and most vulnerable neighbors.
In this tumultuous time, I will continue the work in whatever way I need to to protect representative democracy and level the playing field for workers and families, in an economy that is tilted to benefit powerful corporations and wealthy interests. I really hope we can return to the power-sharing agreement that our leaders have negotiated - but if Republicans attempt their power grab, I will join my DFL colleagues in a pledge to deny quorum by not attending floor sessions to prevent them from throwing out an election and moving forward with a MAGA agenda that will harm our community. If the House GOP do not back down from their threats to commandeer the House floor, I will start session hard at work in our community meeting with constituents, community leaders, and folks from around the state in the work of moving forward my legislative agenda that shifts power, agency and economic opportunity to Minnesota families.
To state the obvious, this is a unique and unprecedented situation. Please reach out to me with any questions you have – I would be happy to connect about this or anything else that is important to you. It is an honor to represent our community in the Minnesota House and I am deeply grateful and committed to be doing this work with you to build a future together where all Minnesotans can thrive.
Best,
Emma Greenman
State Representative