The office is currently vacant; after the 2024 Minnesota House of Representatives election, no party has a simple majority in the chamber, with the Democratic–Farmer–Labor caucus refusing to provide a quorum for a speakership election until the final seat is filled.

Nonpartisanship also was an historical accident that occurred in the 1913 session when a bill to provide for no party elections of judges and city and county officers was amended to include the Legislature in the belief that it would kill the bill.

Legislators ran and caucused as "Liberals" or "Conservatives" roughly equivalent in most years to Democratic-Farmer-Labor and Republican, respectively.

The law was changed in 1973, in 1974, House members again ran with party designation.

While the position has no formal power, the title is seen as a sign of respect for former speakers.