Tim Walz Suffers Political Defeat in His Own State

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s (D-MN) political machine hit a major roadblock after a Democrat candidate was ruled ineligible to serve, handing Republicans a significant victory and opening the door for a shift in control of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

A Ramsey County District Court judge ruled Friday that newly elected Democrat Curtis Johnson did not meet residency requirements and is, therefore, ineligible to represent Minnesota House District 40B as reported by The Minnesota Star Tribune. The decision came after Republican Paul Wikstrom filed a challenge, arguing that Johnson’s claimed residency at a Rice Street apartment was fabricated.

In his ruling, Judge Leonardo Castro sided with Wikstrom, stating that Johnson had failed to establish the residency necessary to hold office. “Curtis Johnson is enjoined from taking the oath of office and from acting as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for House District 40B,” Castro wrote.

“The reasons for the (residency) mandate are obvious and axiomatic to our representative form of government,” he continued. “Obtaining a lease and changing your voter registration does not satisfy this requirement; meaningful physical presence is required to show genuine intent to reside in the district. The people of 40B deserve no less.”

Wikstrom challenged the election results, claiming Johnson did not live in the district he represents. Wikstrom’s campaign team investigated by contacting Xcel Energy and Comcast to verify service connections at Johnson’s Roseville apartment. “We were given the impression that the apartment didn’t have accounts set up for either,” Wikstrom reported. Additionally, his campaign staff inspected the apartment and found that the door “was dusty and lacked evidence of any recent activity or markings indicating dust being wiped away from use,” according to the affidavit filed.

The decision is a political blow to Walz and Minnesota Democrats, who had expected to maintain their hold on the state legislature. The ruling gives Republicans the opportunity to gain control of the Minnesota House, further complicating Walz’s legislative agenda in his second term.

Currently, House Republicans hold a slim majority with 67 seats to 66. The case exposed glaring questions about candidate vetting and transparency within the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL). Johnson, who rented the Rice Street property earlier this year, faced accusations of not living in the district long enough to qualify under state law.

“With the overwhelming evidence we heard during the trial that the Democrat candidate in Roseville never lived in the district, I applaud the court’s decision to grant the election contest and look forward to ensuring that a valid candidate represents District 40B during the upcoming legislative session,” Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring said in a statement. “This is a clear reminder that laws matter, and integrity in the election process is non-negotiable.”

This year, Governor Walz faced mounting criticisms amid his role as Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential running mate during their unsuccessful campaign against Trump and Vance. Walz’s debate performance was widely seen as lackluster, with missed opportunities to challenge Vance. Back in Minnesota, his leadership drew scrutiny for a decline in education standards, with critics blaming prolonged school closures and ideological curricula for falling test scores.

Financial mismanagement allegations also surfaced, particularly involving the state’s teacher pension fund and oversight failures in a large child nutrition fraud scandal. Public perception further declined due to reported internal tensions and accusations of failing to connect with key voter demographics, especially men.