ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — House Democrats have boycotted the opening day of Minnesota’s 2025 legislative session in an effort to stop Republicans from exploiting a temporary majority to advance their agenda. But GOP representatives forged ahead and named their leader as speaker, a move Democrats immediately rejected. The Democratic side of the House chamber was empty as lawmakers convened Tuesday. Secretary of State Steve Simon declared they did not have 68 members he had said would be needed for a quorum and adjourned the House. But Republicans stayed in their seats without him and elected Lisa Demuth as speaker. Democrats rejected that as an “unlawful sham with no legal authority.”
