ST. PAUL, Minn. – The speaker of the Minnesota House, Melissa Hortman, announced that an appeal will be filed against a judge’s ruling that voided the election of Curtis Johnson, a Democrat, to the Legislature from Shakopee. Without Johnson, control of the House would go to Republicans. Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro ruled last week that Johnson didn’t really live in House District 40-B. Hortman is having none of it: “The Republicans are seeking to do in court what they were unable to do at the ballot box.” The appeal will be to the state Supreme Court. In the November election Johnson defeated Republican Paul Wikstom by 30 votes. Republicans then went to court to disqualify Johnson. Agents had staked out the apartment that Johnson put down on paper as his residence and reported finding zilch activity in and out. Meanwhile, they said, Johnson actually was living way across town in Little Canada.
Johnson. Political control of the Minnesota House may depend on where he hung his hat.