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A Democratic state lawmaker-elect is barred from taking the oath of office after a district court judge ruled Friday that the candidate had failed to comply with state residency requirements, putting the 67-67 tie in the Minnesota House in doubt and giving Republicans a path to a slim majority.

Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro issued an order granting an election challenge against Curtis Johnson, determining he didn’t live in the Roseville area district he sought to represent for the time required in state law. 

Johnson’s Republican challenger, Paul Wikstrom, sought the ruling after he and supporters gathered surveillance video and photos that aimed to show Johnson did not reside in the apartment he claimed to inhabit during the campaign.

 that a candidate must live in the state for one year prior to the election and in the district they hope to represent for six months ahead of the election.

In his order, Castro agreed that Johnson failed to abide by the residency requirement and thus is ineligible to serve in the Minnesota House. 

“The credibility of Mr. Johnson’s testimony about his physical presence in the apartment was significantly undermined by his demeanor, the photos and videos presented by the contestant and his own reluctance to commit to any more than minimal, vague amounts of time spent at the apartment,” Castro wrote.

His ruling gives Republicans a one-vote edge in the chamber though there is more court activity and possibly a legislative fight ahead. 

The case had already been appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court and this ruling could be folded into that challenge. Last week, Johnson petitioned to have the Supreme Court to block the entire challenge, arguing it came too late. On Friday afternoon, justices issued a short order saying they wouldn’t step in at this stage, but didn’t rule out taking up an appeal of Castro’s final ruling on Johnson’s eligibility to hold office.

If the seat comes empty, a special election would be called to fill the vacancy. But that is 

almost certain to happen after the Legislature convenes

 on Jan. 14, which would give the GOP a temporary 67-66 margin as the House gets organized.

Republican leaders marked the ruling as a win on Friday.

“I applaud the court’s decision to grant the election contest and look forward to ensuring that a valid candidate represents District 40B during the upcoming legislative session,” House Republican Leader Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, said. “This is a clear reminder that laws matter, and integrity in the election process is non-negotiable.”

In an interview with WCCO Radio, Demuth said the decision gives Republicans a majority — at least temporarily — and reverses the need for a power-sharing agreement in the House. She said that Republican leaders would also plan to revise committee leadership, which gave Democrats and Republicans even representation.

“We will fully exercise our opportunity for a majority in the House of Representatives, there will not be a co-speaker if there is not a tie,” Demuth said Friday. “At this point there is not a need for co-chairs or a power-sharing agreement if there is not a true tie and that’s what the courts have decided today.”

Current House Speaker Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, issued a statement saying another appeal is coming. She said Republican claims to a majority were premature.

“The court erred as a matter of law in not dismissing this case,” Hortman’s written statement read. “A residency issue must be resolved before an election and is not an appropriate basis for an election contest.”

Hortman added, that Johnson’s win was convincing — by 7,503 votes — “and no court should lightly overturn the will of the voters.”

The trial in another election challenge closed earlier this week. DFL Rep. Brad Tabke said that his attorneys proved that he won a new term in House District 54A race, despite questions over 20 ballots that were accepted but never counted and then thrown away.

In disputed Shakopee-area legislative race, voters share what was on uncounted ballots

Trial over Minnesota House race that could swing control of chamber focuses on lost ballots

They brought forward six of those voters to testify that they’d supported Tabke in the election. That would appear to give him the edge over Republican Aaron Paul in the Shakopee-area district. Paul challenged the election outcome, saying that there may be enough votes for him in the 20-vote pool to give him an edge over Tabke. The certified election result gave Tabke a 14-vote win over Paul. A judge is set to issue a decision in the challenge within a matter of weeks.

The Minnesota Legislature is the final arbiter of member qualifications. 

Hortman told MPR News on Thursday said she was confident that the House would remain tied, even if Johnson was not able to take office next month.

“I don’t expect them to be successful in that election contest. But even if they were, and there were a special election, that seat would remain DFL,” Hortman said.

It’s unclear whether Republicans would agree to reorganize the House later in session to reflect a possible tie if the DFL hangs onto the Roseville seat. It would prove harder later because any 67-67 votes essentially preserve the status quo.

The Minnesota Senate is in DFL hands by a single seat — 34-33 — but a Democratic legislator facing felony burglary charges is due to 

. Republicans and some Democrats have called for Sen. Nicole Mitchell to resign but she has rebuffed those requests.

Dana Ferguson

Author

Clay Masters

A district court judge on Friday granted a challenge to Democratic Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson’s residency, blocking him from taking office.

Minnesota House tie in peril after judge rules DFL lawmaker can’t be sworn in

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