ST. PAUL — Republican leaders of the Minnesota Legislature are proposing a brief special session to avert a legal fight over the next lieutenant governor.

House Speaker Kurt Daudt and Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka sent a letter Friday to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, asking him to call a special session to allow the Senate to elect a Democrat as president of the Senate.

Republicans currently hold a narrow majority. Under the state constitution, Republican state Senate President Michelle Fischbach would become lieutenant governor when current office-holder Tina Smith replaces U.S. Sen. Al Franken next month. Fischbach contends she can still keep her Senate seat, but the Minnesota attorney general’s office disagrees.

Earlier this week, Dayton said he was open to considering a special session if it’s limited to the succession issue.