Minnesota Today®

Two tied elections in Carlton County. Minneapolis passes Transgender Day of Remembrance resolution

A lone voter casts their vote
A lone voter casts their vote at the New Ulm Community Center as the polling location near the final hour of being open on Nov. 5.
Jackson Forderer | MPR News

In Carlton County — south of Duluth — there was not one, but two tied elections last week.

In the city of Wrenshall, incumbent Mayor Gary Butala and challenger Jeff Bloom each earned 143 votes.

When there’s a tie, state statute says the winner must be determined by lot. On Tuesday morning, the city council drew a name out of a hat and Bloom was the winner. The result could change. The current mayor asked for a recount, which will be conducted by the county auditor on Dec. 2.

In Kettle River, Patricia Lund and Laura Simi each got 33 votes in the race for city council. The city’s canvassing board used a deck of cards to declare the winner. Lund drew the highest card to win the race. Simi did not ask for a recount.

And the Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution Thursday recognizing Transgender Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20. The annual day observes trans and gender nonconforming people killed and targeted due to their identity. Council member Andrea Jenkins authored the resolution — which passed unanimously.

This is an MPR News morning update, hosted by Elena See. Music by Gary Meister.

Find these headlines and more at mprnews.org.

Two Carlton County races end in ties — winners determined by chance

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