The nearly monthlong impasse that halted business in the Minnesota House ended late Wednesday as Democrats and Republicans reached a deal to get back to work.

House GOP Leader Lisa Demuth, of Cold Spring, will be the chamber’s speaker through 2026 under the deal reached by the two caucuses, according to multiple sources briefed on the agreement. Demuth, who is Black, will be the first person of color to become speaker of the Minnesota House.

Republicans will chair all House committees for the next month while they hold a 67-66 advantage. A March 11 special election for a safely blue Roseville-area seat, called by Gov. Tim Walz on Wednesday, is expected to bring the chamber to a tie. Once the House is evenly divided, Democrats and Republicans will co-chair the committees.

The House DFL and GOP caucuses issued a brief joint statement Wednesday night, saying “an agreement has been reached to organize the Minnesota House effective Thursday. More information will follow tomorrow morning.”

House Democrats will return to the State Capitol for the first time this session. They had boycotted legislative proceedings since the session started Jan. 14 to deprive Republicans of the quorum needed to conduct House business. The DFLers held out because they wanted Republicans to agree to share power with the impending special election expected to give the House an even split.