Minnesota GOP wins temporary state House control after residency ruling

Minnesota state House Republicans had several key pickups in last month’s election, and a recent court decision will give them temporary control of the chamber next year.

The state House was set to be tied 67-67 between Republicans and Democrats in the new year, but earlier this month, a court ruled Democratic state Rep.-elect Curtis Johnson had failed to establish residency in the district he handily won; he was thus disqualified from taking office. Johnson announced on Friday in a letter to Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) that he would not appeal the court’s decision and would forfeit his seat.