The debate over whether Minnesota House Republicans acted lawfully when they elected a speaker is headed to the state Supreme Court. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Secretary of State Steve Simon and the House DFL have filed lawsuits to stop Republicans from taking control of the House for the next two years,

The unprecedented start of the legislative session went on with the usual pomp and formality of years prior. As if the Democratic half of the chamber weren’t empty, and the rules on how to proceed not the source of vehement dispute.

Minnesota legislative battle has shifted to the courts. Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon filed lawsuits with the state Supreme Court challenging Republicans' move to convene and elect a speaker of the House on the first day of session Tuesday.

House Republicans have elected a speaker but the DFL is asking the state Supreme Court to intervene. At issue is whether 67 seats are a majority or whether 68 are needed.

Simon’s opinion comes while Democrats are threatening a no-show if Republicans do not agree to a power-sharing agreement.

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Steve Simon and House Democrats are asking for the Minnesota Supreme Court to rule on the issues surrounding Tuesday's actions on the House floor.

While Minnesota House Republicans hold a one-seat majority right now, a special election later this month should put the state House in an even political split. State Democrats called the move to elect a Republican speaker in the meantime unconstitutional.

DFL House members followed through on a threat to boycott the beginning of the legislative session in an attempt to deny a quorum on Tuesday, but Republicans proceeded to elect Lisa Demuth as speaker despite Secretary of State Steve Simon’s declaration that no quorum was present.

In their lawsuit, House Democrats say Republicans unlawfully organized and elected a speaker on the legislative session’s opening day.

DFLers on Tuesday made good on their threat to keep the Minnesota House in limbo as the parties fight over control. House Republicans pushed ahead anyway in the half-empty chamber. It’s all likely headed to the courts.

District 23A Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, said she thinks she and other House Republicans followed the law on Tuesday when they convened and elected a House speaker after DFLers boycotted the first day of session.