Republicans in Minnesota want the state Supreme Court to delay a special election that would likely end their slim majority in the state House.

The GOP is set to have a 67-66 majority when the chamber reconvenes next week due to Democratic state Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson forfeiting his seat because he failed to establish residency in his district.

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) set the special election for January 28 last month, but the Minnesota GOP and Minnesota Voters Alliance have filed a petition saying Walz did not follow the proper protocols by setting the special election date before there was actually a vacancy.

“The attempt by Governor Walz to call a special election for a vacancy that has not yet occurred, but instead is the result of a successful election contest filed by candidate Wikstrom, is a flagrant violation of Minnesota election law,” Minnesota GOP Chairman Alex Plechash said in a statement.

"Clear attempt" to undermine election

“Issuing a writ that blatantly violates state law is a clear attempt to undermine our elections and harm our democracy. The Democrats supported a candidate they knew to be ineligible for the seat, and now they seek to cover up their past wrongful actions by calling an unlawful and hastily scheduled special election,” Plechash added.

Walz, who had been the vice presidential running mate of Democrat nominee Kamala Harris, argued that “state law requires the governor to call a special election as soon as possible” and alleging that the GOP is attempting “to prevent democratic legislators from being seated.”

Republicans want to use their brief majority to get organizational control of the chamber, rather than share power with Democrats.

Johnson's seat is heavily Democratic and will almost certainly lead to a 67-67 chamber.

Prior to the 2024 election, Democrats held the majority.

The plan

GOP Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth said her party plans to take the leadership reins, while Democrats said they wouldn't show up if a power-sharing plan put in place when the House was expected to be 67-67 isn't followed.

“We will be showing up on Jan. 14 ready to do the work that Minnesotans have sent us to the House of Representatives to do. House Republicans are ready to act on what we have heard from Minnesotans across the state over the last two-plus years,” Demuth said.

“We will do what it takes to preserve the will of the voters in the House of Representatives. In this last election, Minnesotans voted for equal numbers of Democratic and Republican state representatives,” Democrat Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman said.

Because a quorum in the House is 68 members, it will likely be impossible to conduct business if all Democrats fail to show up.

The state also has a one-seat Democrat Senate majority, 34-33.