Democrats Win Minnesota Special Election, Restoring Tied Control of State House

David Gottfried’s victory in District 40B ensures a 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House, continuing a bipartisan power-sharing agreement.

Democrat David Gottfried defeated Republican Paul Wikstrom in a special election for Minnesota’s District 40B, a reliably Democratic area in the northern suburbs of St. Paul.
The election was triggered after the previous Democratic winner, Curtis Johnson, was disqualified due to residency issues, temporarily granting Republicans a one-seat majority in the House.
Gottfried’s win restores a 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House, maintaining a power-sharing agreement reached in February between Democrats and Republicans.
Under the agreement, Republican Lisa Demuth will remain House speaker, and committees will have equal representation from both parties, requiring bipartisan cooperation.
The tie in the House, combined with a Democratic majority in the Senate and governorship, ensures divided government in Minnesota, with significant budget negotiations expected given a projected $6 billion deficit in coming years.