After defeating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz at the ballot box last November, Republicans have dealt the former vice presidential candidate another blow.
Minnesota State House Republicans scored a major victory Thursday morning following an announcement that GOP lawmakers will take control of the state’s lower chamber for the next two years. GOP control of the state House is the product of a power sharing agreement negotiated between both parties, resulting in the election of Republican Minnesota State Rep. Lisa Demuth as House speaker and the creation of an oversight committee to probe the Walz administration.
The power sharing agreement comes after state house Democrats boycotted the first three weeks of the state’s legislative session in an attempt to deny their Republican colleagues a quorum to take control and conduct legislative business. Minnesota House Republicans currently hold a 67-66 majority with one vacancy in a seat previously held by a Democratic lawmaker, which will be filled after a special election in March.
GOP control of the state House promises to be a check on Walz’s power to pass left-wing policy priorities through the state legislature.
“During the time that we have the one-seat majority there will be Republican chairs in every committee with a one vote advantage,” Demuth said at a press conference Thursday.
In the event Democrats win the special election to fill the vacant seat, Demuth will still retain control of the speakership. Minnesota Republicans are characterizing the GOP’s grip on the House speakership as a major win because Republican lawmakers will still have leverage in this year’s budget negotiations with the Walz administration.
If state House margins return to a 67-67 tie, Republicans and Democrats will share power on committees with GOP lawmakers retaining control of the newly-created Fraud and Agency Oversight Committee.
“There is record fraud in the state of Minnesota proven with three new cases even just last week,” Demuth said during the press conference.
A nonprofit in Minnesota notably stole more than $250 million from a COVID-19 federal food aid program in 2022 while Walz was governor. A state audit faulted his administration for failing to prevent the theft of hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.
“Voters have made it clear they want Minnesota House Republicans to be a strong check on Tim Walz and his extreme liberal agenda,” Republican State Leadership Committee President Edith Jorge-Tuñón said following the power sharing agreement announcement. “They are tired of the high taxes and rising violent crime they’ve experienced under Democrat control. Today’s agreement is a decisive victory for Minnesotans, ensuring they get the representation they deserve.”
GOP control of the state House is the first time Republicans will hold power in the lower chamber since losing the House majority in 2018.
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