In a petition to the Supreme Court, Democrats in the state House accuse Republicans of acting "unlawfully" when they conducted House business on Tuesday, including electing a speaker, with no DFL members present.

Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon have requested the state’s Supreme Court resolve the power struggle unfolding in the lower chamber. House Republicans and Democrats have been embroiled in a fight over whether the state House GOP has majority rule.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Secretary of State Steve Simon and the House DFL have filed lawsuits to stop Republicans from taking control of the House for the next two years, arguing it’s unconstitutional for them to move forward without Democrats present.

Steve Simon and House Democrats are asking for the Minnesota Supreme Court to rule on the issues surrounding Tuesday's actions on the House floor.

As expected, Minnesota House Democrats and Secretary of State Steve Simon appealed to the state Supreme Court on Tuesday, asking the high court to declare that Republicans aren’t able to elect a speaker or conduct any other business without 68 members present.

DFLers on Tuesday made good on their threat to keep the Minnesota House in limbo as the parties fight over control. House Republicans pushed ahead anyway in the half-empty chamber. It’s all likely headed to the courts.

In their lawsuit, House Democrats say Republicans unlawfully organized and elected a speaker on the legislative session’s opening day.

Simon’s opinion comes while Democrats are threatening a no-show if Republicans do not agree to a power-sharing agreement.

Half the Minnesota House stood empty on Tuesday when the state Legislature convened for its session and Democrats didn't show up amid a bitter power dispute.