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By Dana Ferguson, Minnesota Public Radio News

Leaders of the Minnesota House will split control of legislative committees during the 2025 legislative session.

With a 67-67 tie expected in the chamber, Republicans and Democrats will co-chair each panel, Democratic Leader Melissa Hortman, of Brooklyn Park, and Republican Leader Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, announced this week. And an equal number of Democrats and Republicans will serve on each committee.

The pair has yet to announce who will serve as House speaker. Minnesota’s Constitution spells out that only one person can carry the title and the two have been working behind the scenes to reach a broader agreement on power sharing.

It will be the second time in state history that the parties have been evenly split in the chamber. The last time the parties split the chamber was in 1979. That year, leaders agreed to give Republicans control of the speaker’s gavel while Democrats chaired key committees.

Two recounts are also scheduled in the next week for a pair of House seats that were narrowly won. One, in the Shakopee area, is set to be held on Thursday. DFL Rep. Brad Tabke won reelection to his seat over GOP candidate Aaron Paul by 14 votes.

And in Sherburne County, a recount is scheduled for Monday in the race between DFL Rep. Dan Wolgamott and Republican Sue Ek.

A recount win for either Republican would give the GOP a majority in the House heading into the 2025 legislative session.

The session is set to start on Jan. 14.