The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday canceled the special election for a metro House race later this month, finding Gov. Tim Walz set the date before state law requires. The election was scheduled for Jan.

The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday sided with Republicans in ruling Gov. Tim Walz prematurely ordered a Jan. 28 special election in the Roseville-area House District 40B. The writ of special election Walz issued on Dec. 27 is now quashed and the election must be canceled, the court ruled.

As a result of the ruling, the Republican Party's 67-66 advantage will last longer, perhaps well into February or March.

The high court ruling means a special election scheduled for Jan. 28 will be canceled and Walz must issue a new writ of special election.

Inaction on the controversy of HD 54A — denial of a new election — risks broader consequences: erosion of faith in the electoral process at a time when doubt has become common

DFL Gov. Tim Walz set a special election for Jan. 28. But the Supreme Court sided with Republicans who said Walz acted too quickly in setting the date and postponed the election indefinitely.

In a late Friday afternoon decision, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that Governor Tim Walz prematurely issued a special election for House District 40B.