When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the House will be one member short.
Rep. Jason Rarick (R-Pine City) has submitted his resignation, effective 11:59 p.m. Feb. 12.
The three-term House member won a Feb. 5 special election for the District 11 Senate seat vacated in January when Tony Lourey was named the state’s human services commissioner. Rarick is scheduled to be sworn in Wednesday.
Gov. Tim Walz has yet to announce a special election to fill the soon-to-be-vacant House seat.
With Rarick swapping chambers, the DFL will have a 75-58 advantage in the House, while Republicans will have a 35-32 majority in the Senate.
“This has been an honor and a privilege to serve here in this chamber with all of you. It’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Rarick said Monday on the House Floor. “I’m not going away. I will be close, but I’m going to miss being here with everyone.”