State GOP chooses a radical pathway to partisan control | By Members of Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous Caucus (POCI) (Winter 2025)

On the opening day of Minnesota’s 94th legislative session, Secretary of State Steve Simon adjourned the session after finding that the required 68-member quorum was not present to conduct House business.
There are 134 House districts, and voters elected a 67-67 tied House. Because neither political party has the 68 members required to conduct House business, the House DFL (Democratic Farmer-Labor party) and GOP caucuses had been negotiating a power-sharing agreement, consistent with the will of the voters. House Democrats will not allow House Republicans to illegitimately push an extreme agenda.
Instead of working out how to share power in the House when the number of House Republicans and House Democrats is at a 50 percent split, House Republicans, over the course of three weeks, staged a legislative coup to defy Minnesota’s Constitution by holding sham sessions and taking unlawful, unconstitutional actions.
Last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court handed Republicans a major defeat by striking down their illegitimate power grab. The Court ruled that a quorum in the House requires 68 members, meaning that none of the actions taken by Republicans over the past three weeks has any legal authority or effect.
In a related power grab, Republicans have continued to threaten the removal of a duly-elected member of the House, undermining the democratic will of 22,000 voters. Rep. Brad Tabke of Shakopee won on election night, subsequently in a recount, and finally in court, yet Republicans have said they still plan to unseat him. The reason to do this is simple: A one-seat majority would still empower House Republicans to advance their extreme agenda, including taking away reproductive freedoms, eliminating paid family leave, rolling back progress to address climate change, and ending free school meals for kids.
Our caucus is calling on House GOP members to honor the will of the voters and the rule of law. The House GOP’s attempt to seize power is not just wasting our tax dollars; it’s wasting precious time we can’t afford to lose.
One dire consequence of a legislative delay could be running out of time to pass a budget, which would shut down state government as of July 1. A state shutdown would devastate Minnesotans: Families may unable to pay bills, crime victims would lose crucial support, infrastructure projects could be cancelled, and essential services decimated. This is not a game — it’s about the future of our state and the well-being of every resident. We are calling on Republicans to return to the negotiating table and abandon their partisan tactics so that we can govern together as Minnesotans expect and deserve.
Republicans want to make us believe that stealing elections, disregarding court rulings, and conducting sham hearings are just part of the process. This radical path is not only dangerous but a direct assault on our democracy. Minnesotans are being told by the GOP to remain silent, to sit back and do nothing, to ignore the fear and anger rising within us. But let’s be clear: Those who seek to steal our power rely on our complacency. If we let this slide, we lose. We will not stay quiet. Fear and frustration will not stop us — they will empower us to act in the face of fascism and a country being governed by an oligarchy.
It is clear that the GOP’s priorities lie not in protecting the will of voters or safeguarding the future for all Minnesotans, but in consolidating power and perpetuating systems that favor the wealthy and powerful at the expense of everyday people.
Our vision is different: A Minnesota where everyone — regardless of race, class, gender, or background — has the opportunity to thrive. We will continue to stand firm against these attacks on our democracy and fight for policies that reflect the values and voices of all Minnesotans.
The House POCI Caucus plays an integral role in making equity a cornerstone of policymaking, prioritizing inclusion, and dismantling racism. If do not act now, the crisis’s we face in addressing housing equity, civil rights, programs supporting working families, reproductive rights, healthcare access, environmental protections, and more will be exacerbated.
We are compelled to address the current situation proactively, we aim to preserve our strength and resources, ensuring we are optimally positioned to effectively counter any future threats that are already arising from the GOP’s MAGA — aligned agenda. We are clear-eyed that to fight back, we must stand with the people and utilize all of our legislative tools to protect our democracy, honor the will of the voters, and build a future where everyone can get ahead, not just the rich and powerful.


The House POCI Caucus is comprised of; Rep. Aisha Gomez (DFL-Minneapolis 62A), Rep. Anquam Mahamoud (DFL-Minneapolis 62B), Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul 66B), Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-White Bear Lake 36B), Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope 43A), Rep. Esther Agbaje (DFL-Minneapolis 59B), Rep. Ethan Cha (DFL-Woodbury 47B), Rep. Fue Lee (DFL-Minneapolis 59A), Rep. Huldah Hiltsley-(DFL- Osseo 38A), Rep. Jay Xiong (DFL-St. Paul 67B), Rep. Kaohly Vang Her (DFL-St. Paul64A), Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth 08B), Rep. Liz Lee (DFL-St. Paul 67A), Rep. Mary Frances Clardy (DFL-Inver Grove Heights 53A), Rep. María Isa Pérez-Vega (DFL-St. Paul 65B), Rep. Mohamud Noor (DFL-Minneapolis 60B), Rep. Samakab Hussein (DFL-St. Paul 65A), Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura (DFL-Minneapolis 63A), Rep. Samantha Vang (DFL-Brooklyn Center 38B).