A week before the legislative session’s start, Minnesota House members are butting heads on what the first day will look like. Democrats say a power-sharing agreement is still necessary, while Republicans declare they have a majority in the chamber and will “exercise that right.”

Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, proudly introduced herself as the House speaker-designate at a news conference on Monday, saying there’s no longer need for a power-sharing agreement after a newly elected Democrat resigned his seat for not meeting the residency requirement.

Minn. House Democrats consider not attending first two weeks of the legislative session to prevent the chamber from achieving a 68-member quorum.

“At this point, there is no need for a power-sharing agreement, because there is not equal power in the state of Minnesota — there are 67 Republicans, 66 Democrats,” said House Leader Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring. “What that does is gives us an organizational majority, and we fully intend to exercise that right.”

Minnesota's legislative session starts on Jan. 14, and a Stearns County representative could be the next Minnesota House of Representatives' speaker.

In a pair of news conferences on Monday, both parties took jabs at one another, as Republicans claimed an “organizational majority," and Democrats threatened to not show up on the first day of the legislative session unless Republicans honored a power-sharing agreement.

Minnesota House Democrats pledged Monday to boycott the start of the legislative session if Republicans attempt to use their temporary 67-66 majority to take control of the chamber and elect GOP Leader Lisa Demuth as speaker.