 The House Chamber was absent 67 members Tuesday as House DFLers stayed away from the Capitol to deny a quorum on the first day of the 2025 session. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
Depending upon how you view a situation, you could say that Tuesday’s Opening Day for the House of Representatives found the chamber either half full or half empty.
In any case, 67 Republicans were at their seats upon the session’s noon launch and no one was seated at the desks reserved for DFL members.
Acting as presiding officer, Secretary of State Steve Simon called the House to order, a roll call was administered by the clerk pro tempore, Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), and the chief judge of the state’s Court of Appeals, Jennifer Frisch, administered the oath of office to the 67 Republicans present.
Then Simon ruled that, not having achieved the benchmark of 68 legislators necessary to meet a quorum requirement, the House would be unable to take up further business. He adjourned the body, thus concluding its official business for the day.
But, within minutes, Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) assumed the speaker’s position that Simon had vacated and the Republicans — contending that their 67 members of a currently 133-member body constitute a quorum — voted to overrule Simon. They then unanimously chose Rep. Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) as speaker.
➡️ Read more about Day 1 of the 2025 session at Session Daily
▶️ Opening Day of the Ninety-fourth Session of the Minnesota Legislature [full video]
▶️ House Republican media availability following floor session
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Session Daily is an online news service updated every day during session and when news from the House warrants.
   
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