The Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday canceled the special election for a metro House race later this month, finding Gov. Tim Walz set the date before state law requires. The election was scheduled for Jan.

Gov. Tim Walz acted prematurely in calling a special election in House District 40B, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

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.

In a ruling Friday, the Minnesota Supreme Court said a special election for House District 40B was issued prematurely, and have ordered the Jan. 28 election be canceled.

DFL Gov. Tim Walz set a special election for Jan. 28. But the Supreme Court sided with Republicans who said Walz acted too quickly in setting the date and postponed the election indefinitely.

Minnesota Republicans have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Tim Walz (DFL) over the coming special election in House District 40B, where the winning Democratic candidate was recently ruled ineligible over residency requirements.

The lawsuit comes after a judge granted Republican candidate Paul Wikstrom's contest of the results of the House race after finding his Democratic opponent, Curtis Johnson, did not establish residency in District 40B.

House GOP Leader Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, celebrated the ruling on Friday. (Renée Jones Schneider/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Governor Walz acted prematurely in issuing a writ of special election for House District 40B.