In a recent ruling by Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro in Minnesota, Democrat Curtis Johnson was found to have not lived in the Roseville-area district for less than six months prior to the state legislative election, rendering him ineligible to serve as a legislator.
Johnson has decided not to appeal the judge’s decision.
This means that when the state legislature convenes on January 14th, Republicans will hold a slim majority in the House with a 67-66 lead.
However, this situation may not last long as Governor Tim Walz has scheduled a special election in a Democratic-leaning district on January 28th, where Johnson had won by a 30-point margin in the November election.
In his resignation letter on Friday, Johnson stated, “While I disagree with the court’s ruling, I acknowledge that regardless of the outcome of an appeal, the ultimate decision lies with the legislative body, and it appears the legislature has not provided a feasible path for me to retain my seat. Rather than prolonging the process, I have chosen to resign now to expedite the special election.”
Johnson’s Republican challenger, Paul Wikstrom, presented surveillance footage and photos in court to prove that Johnson did not reside at the claimed address. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the apartment lacked utilities and showed little signs of occupancy, further confirming the conclusion.
Republican Representative Lisa Demuth is poised to become the House Speaker under Republican control. She expressed satisfaction that the judge’s ruling was upheld. Prior to this, in anticipation of a 67-67 split in the House, leaders from both parties had been working towards a power-sharing agreement.
Demuth stated in a press release, “This confirms that Republicans will hold the organizational majority from day one, and we look forward to ensuring District 40B has a qualified candidate to represent the area during the upcoming legislative session.”
Democrats argue that Republicans would need at least 68 seats to control the state House.
With Democrats holding a one-vote edge in the Senate, coupled with Walz’s veto power, they can block Republican legislation, but Republicans can still push forward their agenda.
Republicans will control committee work and introduce bills to the legislature, potentially forcing swing-district Democrats to make tough decisions on legislation. They may seek to investigate long-standing issues with the Walz administration’s fraud restrictions.
Demuth also questioned Walz’s authority to swiftly arrange a special election before the legislature formally confirmed the vacancy. If this inquiry gains traction, Republican control of the House could be prolonged, although the Secretary of State’s office informed the Minnesota Public Radio that Walz’s order for the special election was proper.
Current House Speaker Melissa Hortman stated that Democrats believe they will win seats whenever elections are held.
Hortman said in a written statement, “Conducting the special election promptly allows voters in District 40B to ensure they have representation in the Minnesota House for most of the legislative session, and we expect the district to once again overwhelmingly vote for Democratic representation.”
In another suburban district, an ongoing court challenge could also impact the power balance in the House. Twenty missing ballots had been accepted but never counted, resulting in incumbent Democratic Representative Brad Tabke defeating Republican Aaron Paul by a 14-vote margin. During a hearing, Tabke’s lawyer presented six voters out of 20 who testified to support Tabke. A judge is expected to decide on the ruling in the coming weeks.
(With reference to the Associated Press)