A Democratic leader said they ‘had to deny quorum’ so Republicans understand they can’t even convene the house ‘without bipartisan collaboration’

A one-seat Republican majority in the Statehouse and a looming special election made for a tense start to a new era of divided government.

As expected, Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon appealed to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to declare that Republicans aren’t able to elect a speaker or conduct any other business without 68 members present.