Dems Flip Minnesota House, Ending Divided Government and Delivering DFL Trifecta 2.0

DFL wins legislative majorities

By Wednesday morning, unofficial results showed Democrats had secured at least 72 House seats, above the 68 needed for a majority. Republicans had won 50 seats, while 12 races remained undecided. The DFL entered Election Day with 67 seats after a Republican resignation broke a 67-67 tie.

In the Senate, Democrats had won at least 34 of 67 seats, enough for a majority. Republicans had captured 24 seats, and nine contests were still outstanding. The DFL had held a 34-33 Senate majority before the election.

Klobuchar wins governor’s race

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the DFL nominee, defeated Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the governor’s race. Klobuchar is expected to become Minnesota’s first woman governor.

How divided government ended

Minnesota had been under divided government since the 2024 election, when Republicans flipped three House seats and the chamber ended in a 67-67 tie. That result ended the DFL’s two-year trifecta and marked only the second tied House in state history; the other was in 1979.

The tie led the parties to negotiate a power-sharing agreement, which took effect in 2025. Tuesday’s results shift control of the Legislature and governor’s office to the DFL.

Issues return to agenda

Republicans sought a new Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud. The proposal had bipartisan support in the Senate but failed to pass the House. Republicans also wanted Minnesota’s tax code aligned with new federal tax changes, while Democrats warned that federal funding cuts could make budget decisions more difficult.