In a special election held in House District 40B in Minnesota, Democrat David Gottfried emerged as the winner, bringing an end to a short-lived Republican majority and tying the control of the House between the two parties. The victory will force Democrats and Republicans to work together to agree on a budget for the next two years, as cooperation will be necessary to pass big budget measures amid challenging budget projections. This outcome came after a state court ruled that Democratic state Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson did not meet residency requirements, sparking a series of events that eventually led to the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between the parties. Once Gottfried is sworn in, there will be even strength on most committees, with Republicans controlling an oversight committee to investigate fraud in government programs. With Democrats holding a one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate, bipartisan cooperation will be crucial to passing legislation and getting it to Democratic Governor Tim Walz for his signature. The results reflect the district’s solidly Democratic nature, with Gottfried’s predecessor receiving 65% of the vote in November. The victory marks a return to divided government after Democrats had previously held control over both chambers and the governor’s office.
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