A one-seat Republican majority in the Statehouse and a looming special election made for a tense start to a new era of divided government.

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.

Minnesota legislative battle shifted to the state Supreme Court on Wednesday. Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon separately asked the court to nullify the Republicans’ actions on the first day of session Tuesday when the GOP convened and elected a speaker without the DFLers present.

GOP leaders said there is precedent for their actions, and look forward to "defending the House from this attack."

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,

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