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The Minnesota DFL Party is poised to lose its trifecta — and the state House of Representatives could face a 67-67 gridlock for the first time in 45 years. 

In Jan. 1979, the chamber convened in gridlock. At the time, former House Speaker Steve Sviggum had begun his first term as a Republican representative representing the Kenyon area, and retired journalist Lori Sturdevant was freshly covering politics full-time for the Minnesota Star Tribune. Each party held 67 seats for five months that resulted in a unique Band-Aid-like power-sharing agreement.

Sviggum and Sturdevant both spoke with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer Wednesday morning to recall their lived experience of the split House — as history is poised to repeat itself.

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Former House Speaker Steve Sviggum and retired political reporter Lori Sturdevant both spoke with MPR News Host Cathy Wurzer Wednesday morning to recall their lived experience of the 1979 split state House — as history is poised to repeat itself. 

As repeat looms, former house speaker, journalist recall 1979 state House split

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