In our quest on Almanac on Twin Cities PBS to highlight efforts to increase civility in politics, we’re featuring The Citizen’s League program that brings lawmakers together with visits in their districts: “The Minnesota Legislative Exchange is a first-in-the-nation effort to build trust and bipartisan relationships in state legislatures. As Minnesota’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit focused on civic engagement and public policy solutions, Citizens League is proud to lead this important effort, intentionally forging new relationships to bridge divides and govern our state effectively.”
Majority in the Middle released the 2026 The State of Bipartisanship Report, offering one of the most comprehensive looks at how Minnesota lawmakers actually work together across party lines.
The report shows that cross‑party co‑sponsorship of bills continue, while committee hearings are more likely to reflect majority/minority power structures. While high‑profile issues often break along partisan lines, the majority of governing work — the work that affects Minnesotans’ daily lives — is still shaped by negotiation, compromise, and problem‑solving across the aisle.
“This year’s data helps to quantify what has been suspected for years: the majority/minority system of power distribution matters, but also that individual legislators have a lot of influence,” said Shannon Watson, executive director of Majority in the Middle. “Bipartisanship isn’t disappearing. It’s just quieter than the conflict. Minnesota has legislators that know how to work together -- and most of them do.”
A major theme of the 2026 report is the role of structures and incentives in shaping legislative behavior. Committee processes, leadership decisions, caucus norms, and even the physical layout of rooms in the capitol influence how lawmakers interact. When structures (including the 67-67 tie in the House) create shared responsibility, bipartisan behavior increases. When incentives reward conflict — especially from national political narratives or hyper‑partisan primary pressures — collaboration becomes riskier.
“Our takeaway is simple,” Watson said. “If we want more bipartisan behavior, we have to design for it, and support it inside and outside the capitol. Structures and incentives are levers we can actually move.”
The full report is available at www.majoritymiddle.org
