Minnesota could see one of the most contested starts to a legislative session when state lawmakers meet in St. Paul next Tuesday.
"A quorum is 68 members. A majority is 68 members. Neither caucus has a majority. We have to work together to get things done," says DFL House Speaker Designate Melissa Hortman (Brooklyn Park) who on Monday said the DFL won't show up for day one of the Minnesota legislative session if a power-sharing agreement is not in place.
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that," she continues.
This comes as House Republicans say they'll assume power with a 67-66 plurality ahead of a special election on January 28 in a DFL-safe district. Even that is contested with Minnesota Republicans filing a lawsuit against Governor Tim Walz (DFL) saying his calling for a special election there violates state laws.
"At this point there is no need for a power-sharing agreement because there is not equal power in the state of Minnesota," explained Republican House Speaker Designate Lisa Demuth (Cold Spring).
A judge is expected to decide if Democrat Brad Tabke has enough votes to win in 54A after 20 ballots were thrown away in a race decided by 14 votes.
Republicans say there's a change they won't seat Tabke if a special election isn't called in that district.
"Every vote needs to count," Demuth says.
The Legislature is scheduled to gavel in next Tuesday the 14, but now that threat by the Democrats threatens to derail the session before it even begins.
"Our voters and the people of Minnesota expect those elected to show up," Demuth told WCCO's Chad Hartman Monday. "And so we will be there. To put this veiled threat out there saying, 'if we don't have a power sharing agreement, we're not going to show up to work,' is a terrible thing to say to Minnesotans."
It's a stark departure from conversations after the election when Hortman and Demuth vowed both parties were ready to work together in a tied Minnesota House.
"I think this is a big game of chicken but the stakes are pretty high. There is a pull power from my cold dead hands feeling from the DFL," says WCCO Political Analyst Blois Olson, referring to last session's DFL trifecta. "Every day I think is different. I think there is a lot of posturing. But the stakes are high. If you don't show up to your job, even if you're acting like you're meeting with constituents and things like that, it's something people are going to remember when they go to the ballot box."