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.

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.

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.

A ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday says a special election to fill the seat for House District 40B must be delayed, leaving Republicans with a one-seat majority until it happens.

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.

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.

They said that in the Minnesota House of Representatives, a quorum, as according to the Minnesota Constitution, based on the current total number of seats is 68.