Session Daily: MN House DFL re-elects Hortman as speaker-designate in deadlocked chamber

Still catching up after two days of very successful cataract surgery.

Earlier this week, I'd posted a Minnesota Reformer article,Dancing in the dark? MNHouse DFL and GOP, tied at 67, locked in a haters’ embrace.

The DFL caucus has chosen its leadership for the next session. From the Minnesota House Information Services' nonpartisan Session Daily on Thursday:

House DFL re-elects Hortman as speaker-designate
by Jonathan Mohr

House DFLers have again chosen current House Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) to lead their caucus amid uncertainty in the aftermath of Tuesday’s election that may have left the Minnesota House of Representatives evenly divided when the 2025 legislative session begins Jan. 14.

Caucus members re-elected Hortman as speaker-designate during a Thursday evening meeting. They welcomed their new colleagues to a body that, barring any changes, will be deadlocked at 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats, a situation that has occurred only once before in the state’s history.

“I am honored to have the support of my colleagues to continue serving as caucus leader,” Hortman said in a statement late Thursday. “Minnesota voters have spoken and sent a tied Minnesota House to the Capitol, and they expect us to work together and get things done. The House DFL is fully prepared to do just that, and I look forward to working with my Republican counterpart on a power-sharing agreement that will facilitate a well-functioning Minnesota House of Representatives.”

The caucus also elected an organizational team of Rep. Jamie Long (DFL-Mpls), Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul), and Rep. Liish Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth) to support the speaker-designate.

On Tuesday, House Republicans erased the DFL’s slim, six-seat majority in the House. The GOP caucus is scheduled to meet Friday morning to elect its own leaders, setting the stage for negotiations on an agreement that would allow the House to conduct its business next year when members need to craft the state’s budget for the upcoming biennium.

Election results will not be official until the state canvassing board certifies them later this month. Two races — District 14B in St. Cloud and District 54A in Shakopee — are close enough to head to automatic recounts under state law.

If the results remain unchanged, 22 new members will join the House next session — 14 Republicans and 8 DFLers.

[MORE: Learn more about the incoming Legislature with the preliminary Member Guide 2025-2026]

Hortman, who was elected to her 11th term on Tuesday, has been speaker since 2019 and held several other leadership roles during her time in the House. They include serving as minority leader during the 2017-18 biennium, assistant majority leader and minority whip.

Here's the Minnesota House Information Service YouTube of  Speaker Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park) and House Majority Leader Jamie Long (DFL-Minneapolis) holding a November 6 media availability to discuss election results. 

This article is republished from Session Daily, which allows public use of its content.

Photo: House Speaker Melissa Hortman glances at the House Chamber's gallery as she waits to open the 2024 session Feb. 12. (House Photography file photo).

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