Op-Ed: State Rep. Kristin Robbins: Minnesota Democrats are subverting democracy

"It’s time for Democrats to stop playing games, show up for work, and join us in doing our Constitutional duty," state Rep. Kristin Robbins writes in her latest op-ed.

As if Minnesota wasn’t already notorious for its cold weather and ultra-liberal policies, Democrats in the State Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz (D., Minn.) are once again putting Minnesota in the news for all the wrong reasons.

The November election resulted in a 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House, and Republican and Democratic leaders began negotiating a power-sharing agreement for the second time in state history.

Soon after the election, however we learned that the Democrats’ candidate in District 40B, Curtis Johnson, had lied about his residency and didn’t live in his district. Near the end of December, a district court judge ruled that Johnson’s serious and material violations of Minnesota law made him ineligible to take the oath of office.

As a result, Republicans hold a temporary 67-66 majority. After all their talk of threats to democracy, you would think the Democrats would gracefully accept their minority status. But, you’d be wrong.

The drama began on December 27, when Governor Walz declared the 40B seat was vacant and called a special election for January 28.

As Republicans noted at the time, Walz’s actions clearly violated the state law governing special elections due to election contests, and were designed to minimize Democrats’ in the minority.

On January 17, after absentee voting had already begun, the all-Democrat Supreme Court declared Walz’s action to be illegal and ordered that January 28 special election be cancelled. A new special election can be called, likely in early March.

Until then, Republicans will continue to hold a 67-66 Majority.

A separate, second election is also being contested.

In District 54A, incumbent Democrat Brad Tabke was declared the winner by 14 votes. However, during the automatic recount it was discovered that 20 valid absentee ballots were discarded by election workers before they were counted. The Republican candidate filed an election contest to protect those voters who were disenfranchised.

At trial, election officials acknowledged they could not say with certainty which ballots were thrown away. Despite this admission, a Democrat-appointed judge ruled that Tabke’s election should stand, based on testimony of six voters whose ballots may have been among those destroyed. The Republican candidate is currently weighing an appeal.

According to state law, the 2025 Legislative Session began on January 14. Despite Republicans having a 67-66 Majority, Democrats claimed they would win the 40B seat on January 28 and demanded returning to a power-sharing agreement. Republicans refused, saying a power-sharing would only be considered again after the results of the new election in 40B are known.

Instead of showing up for the legal start of session on January 14, Democrats held a secret swearing-in ceremony January 12. This ceremony violated Minnesota law, which explicitly states that members must convene on the first day of session. The Democrats pulled this stunt to try to deny Republicans a quorum and prevent us from organizing the House with our one-vote Majority.

Democrats claim there must be 68 Members present to have a quorum, as there are 134 seats in the Minnesota House. Minnesota law defines a quorum as a majority of elected members. Because only 133 members have valid election certificates, Republicans argue 67 Members constitute a majority.

On January 14, Walz’s Secretary of State, Steve Simon, overstepped his constitutional authority by ruling that a quorum was not established, despite all 67 Republicans being present and all 66 Democrats staying home. Simon abused his ceremonial role as convenor of the House and acted as a partisan autocrat in the Democrats’ favor. In so doing, he created a constitutional crisis over the separation of powers.

House Republicans acted decisively against this executive branch power grab. We removed the Secretary of State, organized the House, and elected Republican Lisa Demuth as Speaker.

All Democrats have continued to boycott Legislative Sessions and Committee meetings but continue to collect their paychecks. They have also filed a lawsuit, attempting to have the all-Democrat Minnesota Supreme Court uphold their view that 68 Members are needed for quorum.

In contrast, Republicans are showing up for work every day. We are focused addressing the priorities of Minnesotans, including: stopping fraud (Minnesota has some of the worst in America), making Minnesota affordable (Democrats spent an $18 billion surplus and increased taxes by $11 billion), reducing crime, and raising education standards.

While we Republicans want to work with our Democrat colleagues, we will not sacrifice the rule of law or disenfranchise voters. It’s time for Democrats to stop playing games, show up for work, and join us in doing our Constitutional duty.

Minnesotans are counting on us.

Kristin Robbins represents District 37A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.