Minnesota’s political scene saw a surprising twist this week when Curtis Johnson, a state representative-elect, decided not to fight a court ruling that he doesn’t meet the residency requirements for his district. Johnson, who was set to represent District 40B, officially resigned from his seat after a judge ruled he had not lived in the district for the required six months before the election.
In a letter to Governor Tim Walz, Johnson explained his decision, acknowledging that while he disagreed with the court’s ruling, he understood that the final decision on his eligibility would come from the Legislature—and it wasn’t looking good for him.
The ruling means a special election will take place on January 28, 2024. Anyone hoping to run for the seat must file by New Year’s Eve, giving potential candidates just a few weeks to prepare.
This decision also impacts the balance of power in the state House. With Johnson’s resignation, the GOP now holds a slim one-seat majority in the House—at least until the special election. The Republicans are looking forward to the advantage, while Democrats are optimistic about regaining control in the safe blue district.
As DFL House Speaker-designate Melissa Hortman put it, this election “does not change the fact” that the House is divided and everyone will need to work together to get things done. The special election is just the start of what promises to be an interesting session in Minnesota politics.
