Minnesota House Democrats boycotted the opening day of the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday, January 14th, in an effort to prevent Republicans from advancing their agenda while holding a temporary majority. The boycott came after a closely contested election that left Republicans with a slim majority in the House, with several seats still vacant. While Republicans were able to temporarily convene the chamber, Democrats remained absent, claiming that the session was not being conducted fairly.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House Democrats boycotted the opening day of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session Tuesday in an effort to stop Republicans from exploiting a temporary majority to advance their agenda. There was applause as Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon entered the chamber to convene the proceedings in accordance with state law. But the Democratic side of the House chamber was empty, with none of their members in sight.
The move came after a contentious election cycle that left Republicans with a slim majority in the House of Representatives. With a number of seats still vacant, Republicans were able to temporarily convene the chamber, but their efforts to begin session were met with resistance from Democrats. House Democratic leaders Melissa Hortman and Jamie Long spoke at a news conference on Monday, stating that they would not participate in a session that was not conducted fairly and that they would continue to fight for the interests of their constituents.Minnesota House Republican leader Lisa Demuth countered that Democrats were engaging in obstructionist tactics and that the people of Minnesota deserved to have their elected officials represent them. She criticized the Democrats for boycotting the session and urged them to return to the table and work with Republicans to address the state’s pressing issues. The boycott is expected to continue until Democrats are able to secure a more permanent majority in the House.
MINNESOTA POLITICS LEGISLATURE HOUSE DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS Boycott SESSION
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