Minnesota's House Democrats boycotted the opening session of 2025 to prevent Republicans from using a temporary majority to elect a speaker.

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party representatives were sworn in ahead of the legislative session in a private ceremony, drawing outrage from Republicans. The unprecedented swearing-in ceremony occurred at the Minnesota History Center and came ahead of their promise to boycott the legislative session until Republicans agree to a power-sharing agreement.

Democrats in Minnesota’s state House staged a boycott on Tuesday, walking out and not showing up for the first day of the legislative session in defiance over how the chamber will be divided. When

While Minnesota House Republicans hold a one-seat majority right now, a special election later this month should put the state House in an even political split. State Democrats called the move to elect a Republican speaker in the meantime unconstitutional.

Leaders from the two parties are in a dispute over who controls the Minnesota House now that Republicans have a one-seat majority, at least temporarily until a special election.

After Republicans discussed unseating a DFL representative, Democrats said they would not show up on the first day to “protect the will of the voters.”