DFL candidate holds 14 vote lead for Shakopee-area House race

A recount still lies ahead for a Shakopee-area race that will determine if the Minnesota House of Representatives is tied or if Republicans are in charge next year.

DFL Rep. Brad Tabke leads GOP challenger Aaron Paul by just 14 votes out of about 22,000 cast. That’s one more vote than his lead was earlier in the week.

Scott County conducted a ballot rescan Friday for some ballots after discovering a ballot scanning machine malfunction. The margin is well within the range of qualifying for a publicly funded recount.

Election results currently have the House at 67 to 67, which would require a power-sharing arrangement between Republicans and Democrats.

Tabke first won in the Shakopee-area district in 2018, but lost a subsequent bid in 2020 — when Donald Trump was on the ticket. Tabke won back the seat in 2022.

As of Oct. 21, nearly $900,000 was funneled into the race by outside groups and parties, one of the most expensive races in the state.

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