House finally starts session
Back on Jan. 14, District 12A’s Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, ruled there was a quorum in the House and handed the gavel over to colleague Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, as the new speaker. The Supreme Court ruled a quorum didn’t exist. Photos provided.
By Reed Anfinson
When the Republicans showed up in the Minnesota House of Representatives for the start of the 2025 legislative session, they were ready to swear in a Speaker of the House from their party.
There was just one problem. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party had boycotted the start of the session denying Republicans a quorum of the body required to elect a speaker or to do any business.
Going into the 2025 session, the House was equally divided with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. Then one of the DFL elected representatives was disqualified for not being a resident of his district. That gave Republicans a 67 to 66 majority, and they believed the power to choose a speaker.
Minnesota’s DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon presided at the start of the House’s first day but quickly ruled that because a quorum of the body was not present – 68 members make a quorum – that the House could not convene. It also meant no speaker could be elected.
Republicans challenged that ruling and proceeded to elect speaker.
As the elder statesman of the House chamber at the time, District 12A Rep. Paul Anderson of rural Starbuck stood at the speaker’s chair and ruled a quorum was present. Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, was elected House speaker and Anderson handed the gavel over to her.
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