Minnesota House Faces Unprecedented Chaos as Democrats Boycott Legislative Session Over Power-Sharing Dispute

(KNSI) — St. Cloud area lawmakers are reacting to what appears to be an unprecedentedly chaotic prelude to the 2025 Legislative Session.

On Sunday night, members of the Minnesota House took the oath of office and said they plan to boycott coming to the Capitol for the first few weeks of the session over a proposed power-sharing agreement. The agreement was in the works after the chamber was left with a 67-all tie. However, the GOP has a one seat majority after a judge vacated the victory of a Democrat in District 40B due to them not meeting the residency requirement. The governor called a special election to fill the seat on January 28th. That caused the power-sharing agreement to be put on hold by Republicans as they say state law requires legislators to be in session for 22 says before a special election can be held. With the election slated for the 28th, that’s just 14 days.

Lawmakers in other states have used boycotts before, including in December of 2021 when Texas Democrats denied a quorum over a voting bill. They were successful in that some adjustments to the law were made before it was passed. In December of 2024, Republicans in Michigan used the strategy in protest of changes made to the state’s minimum wage that would eliminate a separate tipped wage and for not negotiating in good faith. In Illinois in 1840, Democrats, who controlled the House, were not fans of the State Bank and scheduled a vote to curb its powers. Future President Abraham Lincoln, who had emerged as a leader in the Whig Party, devised a last-ditch plan to open a window and jump out as others followed to deny the Democrats a quorum. It was unsuccessful as other lawmakers were convinced to return to vote, and the rules against the bank were passed.

St. Cloud area Representative Dan Wolgamott was among those sworn in on Sunday night and told KNSI News he doesn’t have an issue with the boycott. “If it’s moral enough for Honest Abe to use the tool of denying quorum, then it certainly is moral enough for Dan Wolgamott to use the denial of quorum as a tool in his toolbox.”

He compares it to using the power of the filibuster to get the point across or to hold up legislation. Wolgamott defended the decision to join others and stay away from St. Paul saying he’ll still be working for residents. “You can get a lot more done working in St. Cloud a lot of times than you can sitting and listening to folks talk about themselves on the House floor, [and] listening to politicians blow a bunch of hot air.”

Republican Tim O’Driscoll of Sartell told KNSI News he doesn’t believe the oath Democrats took was legal. “This, to me, just appears to be somewhat of a political stunt, with the hope and opportunity to be able to get paid being their stated intentions of not showing up to do their job in the Minnesota Legislature.”

While the state constitution doesn’t mention when and where lawmakers can be sworn in, state statute says the ceremony takes place at noon on the day the Legislature convenes. That happens on Tuesday.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, will preside over the opening and has threatened to declare there is no quorum and prevent Republicans from meeting. O’Driscoll explained Republicans are planning to run the House for the next couple of weeks and are daring the Secretary of State to stop them. “Keep in mind that the stakes that the Democrats are playing are very high right now, and they do not intend to be at the Legislature for quite the foreseeable future to take care of the business of the people. Republicans are here. We are ready, and we’re ready to lead as we promised people we would during the elections.”

He says they will meet and elect a speaker of the House and start moving forward. Read a letter sent by Speaker Designate Lisa Demuth to the Secretary of State by clicking here.

___