In a petition to the Minnesota Supreme Court, Democrats in the state House accuse Republicans of acting "unlawfully" when they conducted House business on Tuesday, including electing a speaker, with no DFL members present.

Steve Simon, who as secretary of state initiates the first House proceedings, ruled there was not a quorum present and adjourned the session. Republicans argued he couldn’t do that.

Following the contentious first day of the 2025 Minnesota Legislative session, where members of the DFL failed to show, partisan tensions are rising as lawmakers claim House Republicans attempted to select a speaker.

The Minnesota House DFL filed a lawsuit asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to declare that Republicans acted unlawfully when the organized they organized the Minnesota House, elected a Speaker, and took other legislative action in the absence of a quorum.

Half the Minnesota House chamber stands empty as DFL lawmakers made good on their threats to not show up for the opening session at the State Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Republicans moved ahead Tuesday and elected D.

Minnesota House Democrats said Sunday that all state representatives-elect had been sworn into office early by a district court judge as the caucus prepares to boycott the start the legislative session Tuesday.

As the clock struck noon on Tuesday, all desks were empty in the DFL half of the House chamber; Republicans pressed ahead declaring a quorum.