In a petition to the Supreme Court, Democrats in the state House accuse Republicans of acting "unlawfully" when they conducted House business on Tuesday, including electing a speaker, with no DFL members present.

Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon have requested the state’s Supreme Court resolve the power struggle unfolding in the lower chamber. House Republicans and Democrats have been embroiled in a fight over whether the state House GOP has majority rule.

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,

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.

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

Half the Minnesota House stood empty on Tuesday when the state Legislature convened for its session and Democrats didn't show up amid a bitter power dispute.

Judy Moe walked into a Richfield Caribou Coffee on Wednesday morning ready to air grievances and advocate for disability rights with her state representative, presenting him with a copy of a printed agenda she created for the 45-minute meeting titled “Meeting with State Rep.