A Republican state representative snatched a microphone from his Democrat opponent's hands and dropped it in front of her at a public forum.

Duane Quam, 58, a four-time Minnesota representative and his Democratic challenger Jamie Mahlberg were debating the issue of education funding at a public library Minnesota.

As the debate neared its end, Mr Quam looked to rebut a point Ms Mahlberg made and reached over and grabbed the microphone from her hand.

A video of the incident circulated widely on social media, with some calling Mr Quam's behaviour "boorish" and "bullying".

During the legislative forum in Rochester, the two politicians passed the microphone back and forth in 30-second intervals.

There were no insults or raised voices during the event, but just before the evening ended someone asked about inflation.

The audience member asked: “Would you support putting an automatic increase on the general education formula to match the consumer price index rate of increase the previous year?”

Debate rules set by the League of Women Voters dictated that Mr Quam answered this question first.

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Mr Quam delivered a detailed argument against the general principle of education funding formulas, and then handed the microphone to his opponent.

Ms Mahlberg, a psychology teacher who had never run for office before, told the audience: “I've seen the systematic disinvestment in public education, I think we can do better than that, and we can start doing better than that by simply making sure that formula increases over time.”

She smiled and turned to her left, awaiting the next question.

While Ms Mahlberg was still holding the microphone, Mr Quam reached across her and grabbed it from her hand before saying "thank you".

The gesture drew a grasp from the audience.

In response, the moderator said: "Oh, I see a rebuttal is required."

Mr Quam then made a second effort to explain his opposition to inflation formulas.

“I want to fund success, not failure,” he said “The formula builds in funding failure.”

Ms Mahlberg later told the Washington Post: “I was really just kind of in a state of shock, I just wanted to make sure I kept my composure.”

She said she doesn't feeling any anger or embarrassment. “Just disappointment,” she said.

“How would anyone feel being on the receiving end of that disrespectful behaviour? Disappointment, for my current representative.”

When Quam finished speaking, he leaned across the table again and offered the microphone back. Ms Mahlberg looked at it briefly but did not take it.

When he continued to hold it out, she looked away from him.

Mr Quam then threw the microphone towards Ms Mahlberg.

Ms Mahlberg picked it up eventually, and answered the next question and the debate concluded without further incident.

Ms Mahlberg said she didn't speak to her opponent afterward.

The next day the video of the moment had gone viral and was converted into GIFs and YouTube videos,and was part of a national debate over the behaviour of men in power.

“The physical embodiment of the cocky, white male legislator,” read one tweet.

Mr Quam apologised to Ms Mahlberg in a statement to Minnesota newspaper the Post-Bulletin.

“I respect Jamie and my actions at last night's forum did not reflect that,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, my nerves got the best of me with our timed responses and I was not as graceful as I should have been while we shared the microphone. My sincere apologies to Jamie and I look forward to continuing a positive campaign.”

Ms Mahlberg said she had never noticed any aggression from Mr Quam before the debate and declined to speculate on what provoked him in that moment.

“I'm ultimately focused on my campaign,” she told The Washington Post. “We have 27 days until the election.”