A power struggle is brewing in the Minnesota House of Representatives, with Democrats threatening to boycott the start of the legislative session on January 14th. This potential move stems from disagreements over seat allocation and power-sharing arrangements with the Republicans.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that the absence of Democratic legislators would prevent the House from reaching a quorum, effectively halting legislative activity. Republicans hold a slim one-seat advantage following a judge's ruling that invalidated Democrat Curtis Johnson's election victory due to residency issues. A special election is scheduled for January 28th to fill the vacancy.

This precarious balance of power has led to a standoff. Republicans aim to leverage their temporary advantage to elect a speaker and control House committees. However, Democratic House Leader Melissa Hortman argues for shared power, anticipating a tied chamber after the special election. She stated during a press conference, "If there is no power-sharing agreement, we will not be here."

Republicans counter that a tie doesn't currently exist and they possess the necessary numbers for a quorum. House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth questioned the Democrats' commitment to power-sharing given their boycott threat.

Adding another layer of complexity, Republicans are considering challenging Democrat Brad Tabke's narrow election win, citing lost absentee ballots. This challenge could further solidify the GOP's advantage, even potentially bypassing the judge's ruling.

Demuth hinted at potential recall petitions against boycotting Democrats and emphasized the importance of their attendance. Despite the tension, Hortman expressed optimism about reaching a compromise before the session begins.