Minnesota Governor-elect Tim Walz will be working with a split state legislature when the session convenes in January. Republican Jeff Howe of Rockville beat Democrat Joe Perske of Sartell in Senate District 13 to maintain the G-O-P’s one-vote majority in the chamber. The special election was held to fill the seat of former Senator Michelle Fischbach of Paynesville who became lieutenant governor when Tina Smith was appointed to the U-S Senate. The D-F-L took back control of the Minnesota House with Democratic candidates regaining 18 seats including many the Twin Cities suburbs. Representative Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park will likely be the next speaker of the Minnesota House.