They Had One Job
By Mitch Berg
A Ramsey County judge has tossed out the election of DFLer Curtis Johnson:
Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro issued an order granting an election challenge against Curtis Johnson, determining he didn’t live in the Roseville area district he sought to represent for the time required in state law.
Johnson’s Republican challenger, Paul Wikstrom, sought the ruling after he and supporters gathered surveillance video and photos that aimed to show Johnson did not reside in the apartment he claimed to inhabit during the campaign.
The Minnesota Constitution spells out that a candidate must live in the state for one year prior to the election and in the district they hope to represent for six months ahead of the election.
This gives the MNGOP a one-vote lead in the House. The “trifecta” was dead even with 67-67 tie – tie votes are defeated.
But this means the Speaker will be a Republican, not some jury-rigged power-sharing arrangement.
I strongly urge the GOP to do to the DFL what John Bonham did to hotel rooms.
December 23rd, 2024 at 7:01 am
I think this decision is great, but can’t it be appealed? I think about the headline the RedStar used, Judge rules DFL House candidate ineligible, throwing majority to GOP for now. That last bit makes me think that this is not over.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:10 am
1) The statement from the House DFL contains their best argument and it’s glorious in its omission. To paraphrase, “This Ruling should’ve been made BEFORE the Election and therefore the MN Supreme Court should overturn this RamCo judge.”
2) One of the DFL Caucus Leaders was on At Issue last week opposite Rep. Harry Niska. Said DFLer claimed that during the previous Session, while the DFL had total control and ruled with an iron fist (emphasis on iron) sans velvet glove, the DFL House Majority was the most bipartisan it’s ever been. If I’d been sipping my OJ I’d need a new television after that one. The GOP was frozen out for the last 2 years more than they’d been in living memory. While the GOP will have to negotiate with the DFL Senate and Governor, and 40B will quickly be filled with another DFLer, the House GOP should use their time in power to their best advantage. I suggest refusing to seat Tabke in in 54A on Day 1. That vote could go 67-65 if no squishes defect.
December 23rd, 2024 at 10:40 am
The best part about the GOP having an organizing majority is that they get the Speakership and chair all the committees. That can’t be taken away during the 2 years of this session because a 67-67 tie vote to change anything fails!
December 23rd, 2024 at 11:29 am
Or maybe, just maybe, the DFL should do a better job of vetting its candidates.
December 23rd, 2024 at 3:27 pm
Greg,
I think we have learned with John Thompson, that the DemoCommies don’t give a rat’s azz about vetting, as long as you’re running as one of them.
December 24th, 2024 at 2:00 am
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December 25th, 2024 at 10:00 am
Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukkah, both on the same day, to Mitch and everyone here.
December 25th, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Good that it was Judge Castro making this ruling. Takes some of the steam out of the outrage.
December 26th, 2024 at 7:47 am
Greg,
As we learned with Judd Hoff, even when they have a chance to do a complete do-over, they don’t. They don’t care until it bites them in the ass.
December 26th, 2024 at 8:00 am
It should also be noted that, in addition to Kommissar Kamala winning in states that don’t require voter ID, in all of the states that had six week long vote counts, it’s not a coincidence that in all cases, the DemoCommie candidate won. This includes Kari Lake’s opponent, Ruben Gallegos, who allegedly received 111,000 MORE votes than Kamala.