Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is returning home from his presidential campaign trail to a new era of divided government as Republicans have gained enough seats in the election to tie control of the House at 67-67, breaking the Democratic trifecta that helped put him on Kamala Harris’ radar. While Democrats will keep their one-seat majority in the Senate, the House is at a 65-65 tie, with potential recounts in multiple closely contested races.
The last time the House was tied was in 1979, and history suggests that power-sharing will be contentious. Recounts in legislative races in Minnesota rarely change outcomes, but the current situation sets the stage for collaboration between Democrats and Republicans. The main task for the 2025 session will be passing a balanced budget, with questions arising about who will be the speaker of the House.
Both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders express optimism about working together despite the split control. While Democrats warn of potential gridlock, Republicans see the tie as an opportunity for balance after two years of Democratic control. The potential power-sharing agreement will require negotiation, but leaders from both sides are open to bipartisan cooperation to serve Minnesotans effectively.
Minnesota has a history of divided government, and shared power has worked in the past, as seen in the 1979 power-sharing agreement that ultimately required a special session. The state’s lawmakers will study how shared power has been implemented in other legislatures to find a model that works best for Minnesota. Tied chambers are not uncommon nationwide and have often led to more successful outcomes than expected.
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