Republicans are calling for a new election in a Minnesota state House race after investigators revealed that 21 ballots were likely discarded in Shakopee. The race, decided by a 14-vote margin, saw Democrat incumbent Brad Tabke declared the winner over Republican Aaron Paul.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar confirmed that the ballots were likely thrown away before being tabulated, calling the situation “the result of human error.” Officials discovered the discrepancy during an audit, where it was noted that some voters checked in but their votes were not counted.
House Republican Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth said the missing ballots made it impossible to determine a clear winner. “This news confirms why we will be seeking an election contest to protect the integrity of the vote,” she said.
Late-night vote changes in this race have also raised eyebrows. Paul held a 360-vote lead earlier in the evening with all precincts reporting, only to lose by 14 votes after the results were updated hours later.
The race is one of two Minnesota House contests that flipped from Republican to Democrat leads overnight, further fueling Republican concerns about election integrity. Republicans argue that the missing ballots, combined with the sudden shift in results, warrant a new election.
With the state House currently split 67-67, the outcome of this contested race could have significant implications for party control in Minnesota.
