North Dakota’s politics haven’t always been a Republican supermajority. There was a time of great political divide — a split of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats in the House. The 1977 Legislature had the unusual tie after Democrats lost a close race in Minot after a recount. A special committee of five Republicans and five Democrats negotiated compromises during the organizational session for the Legislature. Democrats got the speaker of the House, while Republicans controlled the powerful House