A major power dispute has erupted at the Minnesota State Capitol, jeopardizing the Jan. 14 start of the legislative session.Republican leaders announced on Monday they currently have a majority and control of the House due to legal disputes involving two seats.

Hopes for bipartisan comity at the state Capitol this year — forced upon the Minnesota House by the voters, who sent 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans to the Capitol — are already crashing. House Democrats are mulling not showing up for the first two weeks of the legislative session to prevent the chamber from achieving a

Republicans argued Gov. Tim Walz called for a special election too early and asked for a halt ahead of the legislative session.

A lawsuit challenges a decision by Gov. Tim Walz to schedule a Jan. 28 special election after a November winner was deemed ineligible to take office in the House on Jan. 14.

Republicans in Minnesota are attempting to get the state Supreme Court to delay a special election that would likely end their temporary slim majority in the state House. When the new state legislature begins next week,