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

DFL Gov. Tim Walz called a special election for a vacant House seat in the Roseville area too early and must choose a later date, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday in a decision that will extend Republicans’ advantage in a power struggle with Democrats in the House by granting them another month with a one-seat majority.

The Minnesota Supreme Court voided Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to hold a special election Jan. 28 for a Roseville-area seat in the state House, saying he called it prematurely. In a five-page order issued late Friday afternoon,

ST. PAUL, Minn. ( Minnesota Reformer) – The Minnesota Supreme Court canceled a special election in House District 40B that had been called by Gov. Tim Walz for Jan. 28, ruling that Walz wrongly called for the election on Dec. 27 even though the law required him to wait until until after the beginning of the legislative session on Tuesday.

The Minnesota Supreme Court sided with the Republican Party of Minnesota which argued Gov. Tim Walz ordered a special election in District 40B too soon.

Minnesota Supreme Court justices on Wednesday promised to decide quickly whether a special Roseville-area election critical to deciding power in the House happens as scheduled on Jan. 28 or gets pushed deeper into the legislative session.

By Matt Sepic and Clay Masters, Minnesota Public Radio News BThe state Supreme Court Friday sided with Republicans in a lawsuit over the timing of a special election that could determine control of the Minnesota House,