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Minnesota House Democrats were sworn into office Sunday evening in a private ceremony at the Minnesota History Center, a “covert” move that Republicans criticized as illegitimate.
The swearing-in is the latest twist in a contentious run up to the 2025 legislative session, which House Democrats are promising to boycott for several weeks without a power-sharing agreement with Republicans.
DFL leader Melissa Hortman said in a statement that they wanted to make sure their members were “properly and legally sworn in” if they don’t show up for session on the first day Tuesday. Members are typically sworn into office as the legislative session convenes.
“Any attempt to subvert that is illegitimate,” said GOP House Leader Lisa Demuth, responding to the news Sunday that Democrats had secretly sworn in their members. “This move is a slap in the face to the institution and to every voter who expects their elected officials to act in good faith and uphold the integrity of the legislative process.”
Democrats lost three seats in the state House in the fall election, leaving the chamber tied 67-67. But Republicans successfully challenged in court the residency of a Democrat who won a Roseville-area seat, leaving the chamber with a 67-66 GOP edge pending a special election on Jan. 28.
The two parties were negotiating a power-sharing agreement until December, when Republicans said the shift gave them the power to elect a speaker of the House and appoint members to committees. Democrats said they won’t show up for the first day of session without a power agreement to deny Republicans the 68 votes needed for a quorum.
“We would like Republicans to honor the will of the voters,” said Hortman. “We’re working to successfully conclude negotiations with House Republicans and remain hopeful that we will have a power-sharing agreement before Tuesday.”
Democratic members were sworn in over the weekend by retired Hennepin County Judge Kevin Burke. Hortman said there’s some precedent for holding the ceremony outside the Capitol on a day other than the first day of the session, though not for an entire caucus.
