In the 2024 election, Republicans gained three seats in the state House and moved the chamber to a 67-67 tie, but Democratic Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson’s disqualification for failing to establish residency in the district he won gave the GOP a temporary 67-66 majority.

Despite the narrow majority, Democratic officials in the state argued a 68-seat majority would be needed to govern and have boycotted House sessions as the GOP attempted to assert its claim to the majority. Lawmakers from both parties ended their week-long feud and formally announced the details of the power-sharing agreement, which will see Republican Lisa Demuth become House speaker, on Thursday.

“The best negotiation is when not everyone walks out completely happy. But the compromises that were made, having a Republican speaker with very little limitations over the next two years, is a huge win for Republicans, it is a huge win for State of Minnesota,” Demuth said at a press conference Thursday.

The agreement will allow Republicans to chair and have a one-seat advantage on committees while they have a 67-66 majority, but should Democrats win the special election for Johnson’s seat on March 11, then Republicans and Democrats would have their own sets of co-chairs and co-vice chairs on each committee. The committees would also move to have equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats should the chamber return to a 67-67 tie.

Other parts of the agreement included the establishment of Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee, with a 5-3 Republican majority even if the chamber is tied 67-67, and the seating of Democratic state Rep. Brad Tabke, whose tight election had faced a challenge from Republicans.

“A tied House presents a challenge, but it also presents a golden opportunity for members of the Minnesota House to deliver the most bipartisan session Minnesota has ever seen. I still believe that is possible. For anything to get done this session, we have to work together,” House Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman said in a statement Thursday.

The Republican State Leadership Committee, the GOP’s state legislative campaign wing, championed the agreement to begin the legislative session after a successful 2024 election.

“Voters have made it clear they want Minnesota House Republicans to be a strong check on Tim Walz and his extreme liberal agenda. They are tired of the high taxes and rising violent crime they’ve experienced under Democrat control. Today’s agreement is a decisive victory for Minnesotans, ensuring they get the representation they deserve,” RSLC President Edith Jorge-Tunon said in a statement.

The vacant seat is in a heavily Democratic area and is widely expected to elect a Democrat when voters go to the polls on March 11, returning the chamber to a tie.

All seats in the Minnesota House and Senate will be up in the 2026 elections, along with statewide races such as the governor. Democrats have a narrow 34-33 majority in the state Senate.