While anything could happen, conventional wisdom suggests today’s special election in House District 40B in Roseville and part of Shoreview will result in a Democrat win, sending the House Chamber in St. Paul to a rare 67-67 tie. (Democrats won the district last fall 65-35).
A special election is being held today because Democrats were caught cheating in the November general election by electing a candidate who didn’t live in the district. Now, Democrat David Gottfried is running against Republican Paul Wikstrom.
While Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth will remain the Speaker of the House for the next 18 months, a Democrat win today would mean complete power sharing in committees and on the House floor and, by definition, every bill that passes the House will be bipartisan since it requires 68 votes to pass.
Regardless of the outcome, we encourage the House to seriously consider the news last week that an $18 billion budget surplus is heading to a $6 billion deficit. Economic calamity could be around the corner, and the House must show fiscal restraint, something Minnesotans haven’t seen the past six years.
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Minnesota House control hinges on Tuesday’s election
By Torey Van Oot
Axios Minnesota
Control of the State Capitol is on the line in Tuesday’s special election for a vacant Roseville House seat.
Why it matters: The outcome in House District 40B could end Republicans’ one-vote edge in the state House, returning the chamber to a rare 67-67 tie.
State of play: Democrat David Gottfried and Republican Paul Wikstrom are vying for House District 40B, which covers Roseville and part of Shoreview.
- Polls are open from 7am to 8pm Tuesday.
Catch up fast: The seat opened up after a judge ruled in December that DFL Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson couldn’t take office because he failed to meet legal residency requirements.
- The decision upended the balance of power at the Capitol and set off weeks of heated political and legal fights that consumed the start of this year’s legislative session.
Between the lines: While flipping the seat would give Republicans the coveted 68 seats they’d need to pass bills, both sides acknowledge that the political lean of the district favors Democrats.
- DFL candidates carried the district with more than 60% of the vote in the last two elections.
The bottom line: Republican Leader Lisa Demuth will remain speaker either way, under a power-sharing agreement negotiated last month.
- But a tie will limit her power, with DFL votes needed to pass bills out of committee and off the floor.
