
Republicans are demanding a new election in a contested Minnesota state House race after investigators revealed 21 ballots were likely discarded in Shakopee. Democrat incumbent Brad Tabke was declared the winner by a 14-vote margin, flipping the seat from Republican challenger Aaron Paul.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar said the ballots were likely disposed of before being counted, calling it an error during the handling of absentee ballots. An audit showed discrepancies between voter check-ins and the final vote count.
House Republican Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth criticized the handling of the ballots and called for a new election. “It’s impossible to declare a winner with 20 ballots missing and confirmation they will not be recovered,” she said, emphasizing the importance of election integrity.
The timeline of election night events reveals confusion and delays. Shakopee election officials struggled with absentee ballot processing, prompting Scott County to take over tabulation. Later audits exposed missing ballots, fueling Republican concerns over the legitimacy of the results.
This race is one of two Minnesota contests that flipped from Republican to Democrat leads overnight, sparking questions about transparency. Paul led by 360 votes earlier in the evening but was trailing by 14 votes after late updates.
As the investigation unfolds, Republicans argue that the contested outcome undermines voter confidence. With the state House tied 67-67, the result of this race could have far-reaching implications for party control.