REGIONAL — A study by the St. Paul-based nonprofit, Majority in the Middle, suggests that bipartisanship is still alive in the Minnesota Legislature, despite the increasing sense of political polarization in the country.
The group just released their new report that looked at the degree of bipartisanship in bills introduced during the 2025 legislative session.
“Binary red-vs-blue narratives lead Minnesotans to believe that legislators are irreparably segregated along party lines, notes the report in its executive summary. This report shows that’s not entirely true.”
While acknowledging that bipartisanship can be difficult to measure, the group looked at bill authorship to determine how many members of the Legislature were willing to regularly reach across party lines to co-author bills developed by members of the other party.
“Legislators who are collaborating with colleagues across the aisle should get credit for the work they’re doing,” notes the group in its report. “This report, the only one of its kind in Minnesota, uncovers where that credit is due.”
Perhaps not surprisingly, Iron Range lawmakers were found to be the most likely to work across the political aisle. Both Sens. Grant Hauschild (District 3) and Robert Farnsworth (District 7) were among those considered most bipartisan, with DFLer Hauschild signing on as co-author in GOP-introduced bills 45 percent of the time, while Republican Farnsworth signed onto DFL-introduced legislation 44 percent of the time.
The study confirmed what is already widely known, namely that the two lawmakers, who represent the bulk of northeastern Minnesota, frequently cooperate in crafting and supporting legislation that benefits the region, despite belonging to different political parties.
Hasuchild also frequently coordinated lawmaking with Rep. Roger Skraba, who represents District 3A, a large portion of Hauschild’s senate district. That helped to boost both Hauschild’s and Skraba’s bipartisanship rating. A total of 25 percent of the House bills that Skraba co-authored, had originally been introduced by a DFLer.
That kind of bipartisanship wasn’t universal, however, among lawmakers from Iron Range communities. A total of 93 percent of the bills co-authored by District 7B Republican Rep. Cal Warwas, had only GOP backing, compared to just seven percent that had been authored by a DFLer, Hauschild in most cases.
Sixth District Republican Sen. Keri Heintzeman had among the least bipartisan records during the last session, co-authoring no bills authored by a DFLer. Heintzeman, however, was seated late in the session after a special election to replace Sen. Justin Eichorn, who resigned after charges that he had solicited an underage prostitute.
Hauschild said it’s important to work across the aisle, given the nearly even party split in the Legislature. “This is the most closely divided state Legislature in Minnesota history, which means the only way we can get things done is by coming together, finding common ground, and working together,” Hauschild said. “I’m proud of my bipartisan work at the Legislature, and I’ll continue to build relationships with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Our communities and the areas we represent may look different, but we’re all fighting for the same things.” 
While bill authorship is just one metric for measuring bipartisanship, Sen. Hauschild also serves as the co-chair of the Legislature’s Civility Caucus, a bipartisan, bicameral caucus that is committed to building trust and understanding between parties.
Other lawmakers with strongly bipartisan records included DFL Sen. John Hoffman, who co-authored more bills introduced by GOP members than by his fellow DFLers. Hoffman, notably, was the subject of an assassination attempt by Vance Boelter, who is charged with shooting both Hoffman and his wife, as well as killing DFL Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, back in June. DFL Sen. Judy Seeberger evenly split the number of bills she co-authored between her own party and those introduced by a Republican.
Fifty-one percent of the bills co-authored by Republican Sen. Gene Dornink, were originally authored by a DFLer.
Across the Legislature, a total of 15 House members (9 DFLers and 6 Republicans) had bipartisan co-authors on at least 50 percent of the bills they authored, including ones they authored solely by themselves.
Although comparisons will naturally occur, Majority in the Middle states that the their report is not an effort to label legislators as best or worst.
“Bipartisanship is complicated,” states the report. “Bill authorship is just one measure. Since authoring legislation is essential to legislators’ job, it is an important measure.
There are many ways a legislator can work across the aisle that are not captured in this report. It is our position that any efforts by legislators to cross the aisle and build relationships should be celebrated.”