Half the Minnesota House stood empty at the start of the legislative session on Tuesday, after Democrats didn't show up amid a bitter power dispute with Republicans over who can and should control the chamber.

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.

Minnesota's House Democrats boycotted the opening session of 2025 to prevent Republicans from using a temporary majority to elect a speaker.