“Minnesotans Deserve Better”: Gov. Tim Walz Silent as State Democrats Threaten Legislative Boycott
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who campaigned for vice president in 2024 on a platform of defending democracy, has remained notably silent as Democratic lawmakers in his state consider boycotting the legislative session to deny Republican lawmakers a quorum.
The state’s legislative session is set to begin Tuesday, but Democratic House members might not attend after holding an unprecedented secret swearing-in ceremony Sunday at an undisclosed location outside the state capitol. Traditionally, lawmakers are sworn in publicly on the first day of the session.
“It was shocking to hear that House Democrats held an unprecedented secret swearing-in ceremony behind closed doors, with no public notice,” said Republican Rep. Lisa DeMuth, the GOP speaker-designate, in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“If the [Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party] DFL believes what they’re doing is right, why not hold a public swearing-in?” Republican lawmakers have criticized Walz for appearing to condone the Democrats’ actions, which they argue undermine transparency and accountability.
“It’s outrageous that Tim Walz has given Minnesota Democrat legislators blanket approval for a secret, behind-closed-doors, swearing-in last night (no public, no media) and a green light to not show up for work on Tuesday,” Republican Rep. Pete Stauber wrote on X. “Minnesotans deserve better!”
The Minnesota House Republicans currently hold a narrow 67-66 majority due to one vacant Democratic seat. This vacancy temporarily reduces the total number of members to 133, which Republicans argue lowers the quorum requirement to 67 members. However, House Democrats, led by speaker-designate Rep. Melissa Horton, dispute this interpretation, insisting the quorum remains at the usual 68 members.
Horton defended the swearing-in ceremony and the potential boycott. “Denial of quorum is a legitimate parliamentary tactic,” she said Monday. “In the event Democrats choose to deny quorum, we wanted to be sure to have all our members properly and legally sworn in.”
House Republicans, however, have pledged to proceed with the legislative session, regardless of a Democratic boycott. “Democrats can join us in showing up for work, or they can explain to Minnesotans why they’re getting paid to no-show,” DeMuth added.
The situation mirrors a 2021 Texas Democratic boycott that stalled a GOP-backed voting integrity bill. Minnesota Democrats’ potential move has reignited partisan tensions over legislative procedures and the principles of democratic governance.
