In MN Supreme Court: GOP House lawmaker disqualified in 4th-term bid, Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst reports:
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ruled a Republican state House incumbent ineligible for November's election amid questions about his residency.
Justices ordered a February special election for that seat after accepting the findings of a court-appointed referee that Rep. Bob Barrett doesn't live in the Chisago County district northeast of St. Paul that he now represents. Barrett is who owns a home in a nearby district but rented a property in the one he ran in.
The decision means the Minnesota House will start its next session with 133 members, down one, which could be pivotal if the split between parties is close. Republicans are currently in the majority.
Barrett, a three-term lawmaker, owns a home in Shafer, Minn., where his wife resides, but insists he spends sufficient time and has taken enough steps to qualify as a resident of Taylors Falls, Minn.
The distinction matters because Minnesota legislators must live in the district they represent at least six months before the election.
Rather than remove Barrett from the ballot, the court said no winner should be declared in November. Justices turned to a new state law that triggers a special election the following February.
For our earlier coverage, check out Watch live video at 11:00 a.m.: MN Supremes to hear oral arguments in Barrett residency case and Sept 6 state supremes showdown: judge rules Barrett lives outside district, should be off ballot.
Banner: We fixed Bob Barrett's banner.
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