The Minnesota House is tied once again after Democratic candidates won two special elections on Tuesday.
Republicans were in the minority during the 2025 session but enjoyed a temporary majority for the short period between the resignations of two Democratic lawmakers and their seats being filled.
In District 47A, Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate Shelley Buck cruised to victory as the only candidate on the ballot. She replaces Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger, a DFL House member who resigned from the Woodbury and Maplewood district after winning a Minnesota Senate special election in November. DFL is the state party associated with the national Democratic Party.
In District 64A, DFL nominee Meg Luger-Nikolai beat Republican Dan Walsh with over 95% of the vote. The labor attorney replaces Kaohly Her, who resigned from the St. Paul district after winning the 2025 November mayoral election.
“With Representative-elect Buck and Luger-Nikolai’s victories, Minnesotans now have two more Democratic champions who will fight to lower costs, protect health care, and protect our community from federal overreach and violence,” Democratic National Committee Ken Martin said in a statement.
The election results were widely expected. They bring the state House back to a 67-67 tie ahead of the legislative session set to begin on Feb. 17. The legislative tie means the parties are operating under a power-sharing agreement that allows Republican state Rep. Lisa Demuth to serve as House speaker, while both parties co-chair most House committees.
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The state Senate is separated by a single vote, with DFLers holding a 34-33 majority.
Once Buck and Luger-Nikolai are sworn in, the 201-member legislature will be fully seated for the first time since last June, when House Speaker Melissa Hortman was assassinated, and state Sen. John Hoffman was wounded in an attack.