Inauguration surprise: No Daudt or Bakk
In a surprise move, the top Republican in the Minnesota House will be a no show today when DFL Gov. Mark Dayton is sworn in for a second term.
House Speaker-designate Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, was invited but does not plan to attend the noon inauguration event at the Landmark Center in St. Paul due to other commitments, according to a spokeswoman.
Daudt is preparing for Tuesday’s start of the 2015 Legislative session when he is expected to be elected speaker.
Daudt’s decision to not attend today’s festivities follows his repeated pledges to work with Dayton in the coming months to find common ground solutions.
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UPDATE
In an equally surprising more, the top Democrat in the Minnesota Senate is also a no show. Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, could not attend the inauguration due to scheduling issues, according to a spokeswoman.
UPDATE 2
Daudt is at a Minnesota House Republican Campaign Committee fundraiser that he was already committed to attending, but will attend a reception for the governor later in the day, according to his spokeswoman.