Theis, Johnson sworn in; state House to full strength

by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House is going back to full strength again with 134 members after DFLer Clark Johnson and Republican Tama Theis take the oath of office Tuesday.

The two candidates won special elections last week.

The seat now held by Johnson, from the North Mankato/St. Peter area, was vacated after Democrat Terry Morrow announced he was taking a job with the Uniform Law Commission in Chicago.

Theis won a special election in the St. Cloud area. Her seat was vacated after Republican Steve Gottwalt took a job as a lobbyist with The Center for Diagnostic Imaging in St. Louis Park.

Neither election changed control of the House. There are 73 Democrats in that body compared to 61 Republicans.