Instant Insight

30-Second Take

• Minnesota voters have elected a split state House, with both Democrats and Republicans holding 67 seats each.
• This rare split has significant implications for the legislative process and power dynamics in the state.
• The outcome is still subject to legal challenges and recounts in closely contested districts.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The 2024 Minnesota House of Representatives election resulted in a historic tie, with the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) and the Republican Party each securing 67 seats. This is only the second time in Minnesota’s history that the House has been split evenly between the two parties, the first instance being in 1979.

Core Players

• Melissa Hortman – DFL House Speaker
• Lisa Demuth – Republican House Minority Leader
• DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party)
• Republican Party of Minnesota

Key Numbers

• 67 – Number of seats held by each party in the Minnesota House
• 134 – Total number of seats in the Minnesota House
• 0.5% – Margin triggering automatic recounts in Minnesota law
• 15 – Margin of votes in the closest contest, District 54A, after recount

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The election outcome was influenced by narrow victories in key battleground districts. The DFL lost three seats in Greater Minnesota to the Republicans, leading to the tie.

“Based on current results, control of the Minnesota House of Representatives is too close to call,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “It is important to be patient while we wait for results to be finalized.”

Inside Forces

The internal dynamics are complex, with both parties preparing for shared control of the chamber. This includes seating two co-chairs to each legislative committee, one from each party.

House leaders are working on a broader leadership agreement to outline how they might share control of the House speaker’s gavel, as the Minnesota Constitution stipulates that only one person can hold this position at a time.

Power Dynamics

The power balance is delicate, with each party holding equal influence. Historical precedent shows that such splits can lead to unique governance arrangements, such as what occurred in 1979 when Democrats and Republicans shared duties until a contentious end to the session.

“Tonight, House Republicans broke the Democrat trifecta and restored balance to Minnesota… There are seats still outstanding tonight that are very winnable for Republicans, and any one of those would deliver a House GOP Majority,” stated House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth.

Outside Impact

The broader implications include the impact on state legislation and governance. With the DFL controlling the Senate and the governorship, the split in the House adds a layer of complexity to passing laws.

The situation also highlights the importance of recounts and legal challenges, as seen in District 54A where 21 ballots went missing, and in District 40B where a judge invalidated the DFL winner’s election certificate due to residency issues.

Future Forces

As the legislative session begins on January 14, 2025, both parties will need to navigate this unique situation. The 2025 session is scheduled to end by May 19, during which time they will have to find ways to collaborate and pass legislation effectively.

Potential areas of collaboration and conflict include budgetary decisions, regulatory reforms, and social policy initiatives.

Data Points

• November 5, 2024 – Date of the Minnesota House of Representatives election
• August 13, 2024 – Date of primaries
• January 14, 2025 – Start of the 2025 legislative session
• May 19, 2025 – Scheduled end of the 2025 legislative session
• 2018 – Year the DFL gained control of the House
• 1979 – Previous year the House was split evenly