Minnesota House of Representatives Tied Following Election, DFL Retains Senate

November 7, 2024

Minnesota Republicans did very well at the state level in the November 5 election, flipping three seats in the Minnesota House of Representatives and eliminating the DFL’s majority. 

For only the second time in history, the House is split evenly between Republicans and Democrats 67-67. The DFL previously held a 70-64 majority.  

According to Election Day results, the margin in two state House races were close enough to trigger automatic recounts. Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) won re-election by 13 votes over Republican challenger Aaron Paul, and Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud) beat Republican challenger Sue Ek by 28 votes. Both margins were less than 0.5% differential, which qualifies them for state-funded recounts. If either recount results in a change in the outcome of the election, Republicans could gain a majority of seats in the House. 

As of now, it is unclear how leadership positions such as House Speaker and committee chairs will be selected, given that neither party has a majority. In 1979, the only other example of a tied Legislature, the two parties agreed that one party would control the speakership while the other would appoint chairs or majorities in top committees. The two caucuses will likely need to negotiate roles and responsibilities before the Legislature convenes on January 14. 

In the special election for Senate District 45, which determined the control of the State Senate, DFL candidate Ann Johnson Stewart won the seat previously held by MMA member Kelly Morrison, MD. This continues the one-vote 34-33 DFL majority in the Senate. The special election was announced after Morrison resigned that seat to run to represent Minnesota’s third district in Congress, which she won.  Morrison is the first physician from Minnesota to serve in Congress.