Minnesota's new legislative session begins tomorrow, but there are still unknowns over how much of it will actually get started.
A political expert says jockeying by both parties over House control is likely a turnoff for voters.
After last fall's election, the Minnesota House was at an even split of 67 seats for Republicans and the DFL.
But a Democratic winner stepped down because of residency rules, meaning temporarily, the GOP has a slight edge. That has Republicans setting aside a power-sharing agreement, with DFL members threatening not to show up, citing a special election.
Hamline University Political Science Professor David Schultz said the optics aren't good.
"This is the type of scenario," said Schultz, "that really feeds into why oftentimes people just think that the government just can't get anything done."
With the electorate growing more divisive, Schultz said both parties have incentives to appeal to their base voters. But for voters with a more open mind, he said the events unfolding resemble "grandstanding" by these elected officials.
Schultz added that neither party is really prepared to compromise, with recent sessions not providing an opportunity to sharpen those skills.
Even though Republicans did well at the national level in last fall's election, he said he feels both parties are at a crossroads in appealing to voters and their shifting mindsets, especially younger generations.
"There is a possibility that longer term we could see the support for the two major parties decay," said Schultz, "and does that open up a possibility for redefining the parties, creation of a new party that could provide some possibility for more compromise."
But he thinks the possibility of a less-hostile political environment likely won't take shape for another decade.
Until then, Schultz predicted more short-term thinking by the major parties that aligns with a "winner-take-all" approach -- even if it doesn't always translate to effective governing.
Support for this reporting was provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York.