Senator proclaims loyalty is to district, ‘not the DFL,’ before voting to end power-sharing agreement with GOP

Democrat Judy Seeberger admitted that many voters in her district "do not feel represented by what we have done in the legislature over the past two years" before voting to end the power-sharing agreement with Republicans.

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Sen. Judy Seeberger, DFL-Afton, speaks on the Senate floor Monday. (Minnesota Senate Media Services/YouTube)

A DFL senator from an east metro swing district expressed a lack of confidence on Monday that her Democratic colleagues will work in a bipartisan manner this session as they regained their one-seat majority.

Despite those words, Judy Seeberger then voted with her caucus to ensure they take back control of the chamber.

Seeberger’s speech on the Senate floor came moments after the chamber officially added its 67th member as Doron Clark, a Democrat from Minneapolis, was sworn in to represent Senate District 60, following his win in a special election last week. Clark steps in to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Kari Dziedzic in December.

Following Clark’s oath of office, Democratic leadership introduced a resolution to terminate the power-sharing agreement they made three weeks ago with Republicans when the Senate was temporarily tied 33-33 for the first few weeks of session. Republicans then brought an amendment that would have extended the power-sharing agreement by one week, so that all the standing committees that have hearings scheduled this week can continue.

As DFLers and Republicans debated that amendment, Seeberger made a floor speech that intimated she may buck her caucus leaders’ instructions to end the power-sharing agreement.

“As a DFL member who won her seat by only 321 votes in the last election, it is not lost on me that I represent not only the Democrats in my district, but the Republicans,” said Seeberger, a first-term senator who represents District 41. In November, Republicans won both House seats in District 41 by a margin of 837 votes.

“I have found the last few weeks to be a very productive use of our time to work together across the aisle to work on consensus-building, common-sense bills,” Seeberger continued. “It is my hope that will continue; unfortunately I don’t have the assurances from everyone in my caucus that we will.”

“Quite frankly, I have a fair number of constituents in my district that do not feel represented by what we have done in the legislature over the past two years,” Seeberger said, referencing a DFL trifecta that increased the state budget by 38 percent and passed a number of bills along party lines with Seeberger’s help.

“My commitment is to represent everyone in my district, not just the Democrats,” she added. “My loyalty is to my district, not the DFL.”

Seeberger changes vote

Following that public chiding of her DFL colleagues, Seeberger then became the de facto deciding vote on the Republican amendment to extend the power-sharing agreement for one week. Because Seeberger was the only senator among 67 to not cast a vote, the amendment remained tied at 33-33 and did not pass.

Democrats who objected to the amendment said they weren’t made aware of the motion before it came to the floor.

“It’s a little bit disappointing this is being brought forward in this manner without any prior conversation,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis.

Seeberger then represented the deciding vote to terminate the power-sharing agreement. Those following the action in real-time observed that Seeberger initially cast a “no” vote on the resolution, and then switched her vote to a “yes” just moments before the roll closed.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson took a moment on the Senate floor to encourage the eight Democrats who recently formed a “Blue Dog Coalition” to “be more middle of the road” this session. (Minnesota Senate Media Services)

Democrats then officially elected Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, of Minneapolis, as Senate president, Sen. Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, as majority leader, and Sen. Ann Rest, of New Hope, as president pro tem. That didn’t sit well with Republicans.

“Within just minutes after swearing in 34 votes for the Democratic caucus … the Democrats are pulling their power with a one-vote majority,” said Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Alexandria. “Now I hope the House Democrats that haven’t shown up to work yet are watching also, because they have a House with the same fractional difference … And yet (Senate) Democrats within minutes are breaking the power-sharing agreement so they can have all the power.”

GOP leaders call out new ‘Blue Dog’ Democrat caucus

Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson called out a new group of eight DFL senators, who call themselves the “Blue Dog Coalition,” for their hesitancy to break with their DFL colleagues.

“So this vote today, members, is a vote to delve back into partisanship in which one political party controls the entire agenda, cutting off half the state’s constituents,” said Johnson, of East Grand Forks. “So I am hoping that those who have made a pledge, joined a caucus perhaps, to be more middle of the road can come with and represent Minnesotans in the future.”

In a statement after the vote, he said the “Blue Dog” Democrats “demonstrated they will always get in line with their political party—acting more like ‘lap dogs’ than ‘guard dogs.'”

House Republicans didn’t waste the opportunity to call out their DFL colleagues following the action on the Senate floor on Monday.

“See what Democrats do with a one-seat majority?” Rep. Marion Rarick said in a social media post. “Senate Democrats immediately end their much touted bipartisan power-sharing agreement. Just a reminder, R 67 D 66 in the House and Democrats are demanding a power-sharing agreement or they won’t come back to work.”

 

Hank Long

Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.