Ap Decision Notes: What To Expect In Minnesota's Special State House Election

Voters in Minnesota will choose a new representative Tuesday in a heavily Democratic state House district at the center of a post-Election Day drama to control the chamber .

The special election in House District 40B, in the northern St. Paul suburbs, was scheduled after a state court ruled that Democratic state Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson failed to meet residency requirements. Had Johnson taken office, the House would have started the 2025 session in a 67-67 tie that was expected to result in a power-sharing agreement between the two parties. Instead, Johnson's decision not to appeal the court ruling gave House Republicans a temporary 67-66 advantage , which GOP leaders said gave them the "organizational majority" needed to control the House agenda. That prompted a Democratic boycott of the chamber.

The parties eventually reached a power-sharing agreement in February that assumes that Democrats will hold the district in Tuesday's special election, restoring the 67-67 tie.

The nominees for the seat are Democrat David Gottfried, an attorney, and Republican Paul Wikstrom, who also ran in 2024 and challenged Johnson's residency status in court.

Johnson received 65 of the vote in November, compared with about 35 for Wikstrom. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris carried the district with 68 of the vote, far better than the 51 she received statewide in her narrow win over Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.