In a rare showing of bipartisanship in Minnesota's split Senate, Senator Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) announced that DFL and GOP leaders have come together to create an organizing agreement during the chamber's temporary deadlock, according to Minnesota Senate DFL. This unusual move was sparked by the passing of Senator Kari Dziedzic (DFL-Minneapolis), which left an equal 33-33 split among the Senate members. The agreement, effective with the new session, is intended to guide Senate operations until a January 28 special election.
As the Legislature convened, Senator Rest played a key role in these extraordinary negotiations and highlighted the need for a "unique solution," to maneuver through this unforeseen deadlock, the arrangement ensures shared power and responsibilities between the two party caucuses. Rest co-chairs the Senate Taxes Committee with GOP Senator Bill Weber, and together, they moved hearings on tax-policy bills forward. Her statement, “The temporary 33-33 tie in the Senate posed unique challenges and it required a unique solution,” as per Minnesota Senate DFL.
Key points of this temporary power-sharing agreement include designations for co-presiding officers from both caucuses, dual leadership on committees, and an even split of DFL and GOP members on committees, ensuring neither side has an upper hand before the special election results. Additionally, the agreement has a clause that prevents changes to Senate rules throughout the rest of 2025 and will only end once a 34-vote majority emerges to dissolve it, as reported by Minnesota Senate DFL.
