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Politics and Government News
Dana Ferguson
Updated:

Minnesota Republicans to challenge election result in Shakopee House race in court

side by side of two men
Minnesota House of Representatives District 54A candidates running in the general election include incumbent Rep. Brad Tabke, Democrat, and Aaron Paul, Republican.
U.S. Congress | Campaign photo

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Minnesota House Republicans announced Tuesday they plan to challenge the result of a state House race in the Shakopee area after Democrats saw a narrow victory there, with the outcome likely to determine chamber control in the new year.

GOP House Leader Lisa Demuth said Republicans would go to court to contest the outcome of the District 54A race. A recount showed DFL Rep. Brad Tabke beat Republican Aaron Paul by 14 votes, which was the result certified Monday by the canvassing board in Scott County.

People sit at tables in a conference room.
Election officials in Scott County begin a recount on Nov. 21 in a narrowly-divided legislative contest that could determine power in the Minnesota House.
Dana Ferguson | MPR News

Demuth said the results could be affected by a record that appears to show there are 21 absentee ballots that county election officials haven’t been able to account for. The discrepancy is under investigation by Scott County elections officials.

“The recount may be over, but the investigation into the 21 missing ballots in District 54A is still ongoing. Even after Friday’s recount, enough ballots remain missing to potentially sway the outcome of the election,” Demuth said in a news release. “House Republicans are taking action to ensure that every legal vote counts and that the election is decided by the people of District 54A without interference.”

A successful challenge could result in a range of remedies, up to a possible special election in the district. If the challenge is rejected, the House will be split 67-67 between Democrats and Republicans come January.

A spokesperson for the DFL House Caucus on Tuesday night said that Tabke’s win was legitimate and likely would stand, despite the challenge.

“We have seen nothing that should cause doubt about the result of the recount and we expect Rep. Tabke to again prevail in an election contest,” the spokesperson said in a statement.