Minnesota Report
With the recounts over and the Minnesota House split with a 50-50 tie for the 2nd time in our state’s history, it might be a bit of political payback for Republicans this go round.
DFL Curtis Johnson (DFL-40B, Roseville) who handily won the November 5th election with more than 30%securing 15,963 votes or 65.19% over Paul Wikstrom (R-40B-Roseville) 8,460 votes or 34.55. There is a lawsuit underway challenging Johnson’s eligibility to seek the seat due to a residency question arguing he actually lives in Little Canada and not in the district as per Minnesota law 60-days before the election. If Johnson’s Election Certificate is challenged it will be the first significant vote of the incoming members. If he were to resign it would provide the Republicans with a majority until a Special Election is called and the results are known, which would only reestablish the tie.
This is reflective of 1979, when the House was split and the resulting even divide was overturned when Robert “Bob” Pavlak, Sr (R-St Paul) was prosecuted over false election claims and found guilty and was later expelled from the body when he wasn’t able to vote for himself. This gave the DFL a single-vote majority which they held and retained when Frank J Rodriguez Sr was elected to the seat.