House Republicans plan to act as majority, DFL threatens Opening Day absence in power sharing tug-of-war

House Republicans plan to fully exercise their rights as the majority on the first day of the 2025 legislative session, but House DFLers plan to not be in the Capitol if a power-sharing agreement isn’t in place.

Republican House Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) reiterated at a Monday press conference that with a 67-66 split in the House, the tie following the general election no longer exists.

“We will be showing up on Jan. 14 ready to do the work that Minnesotans have sent us to the House of Representatives to do. House Republicans are ready to act on what we have heard from Minnesotans across the state over the last two-plus years,” Demuth said.

At a later press conference, DFL House Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said DFL members aren’t planning to be present at the Capitol on the first day of the legislative session if Republicans don’t honor the power-sharing agreement negotiated after the Nov. 5 election, when the House was expected to be tied 67-67. DFL House members will be working in their districts on the first day of the session instead, she said.