The clash in St. Paul over who controls the state House is now in court, after Democrats filed a lawsuit accusing Republicans of acting unlawfully when they convened for session as a majority and elected a speaker.

Steve Simon, who as secretary of state initiates the first House proceedings, ruled there was not a quorum present and adjourned the session. Republicans argued he couldn’t do that.

Following the contentious first day of the 2025 Minnesota Legislative session, where members of the DFL failed to show, partisan tensions are rising as lawmakers claim House Republicans attempted to select a speaker.

House Democrats boycotted the opening day of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session Tuesday in an effort to stop Republicans from exploiting a temporary one-seat majority to remove one of their members.

The Minnesota House GOP says it could still keep a DFL rep out of office even after a judge ruled he won reelection by a slim margin.

After Republicans discussed unseating a DFL representative, Democrats said they would not show up on the first day to “protect the will of the voters.”