The Minnesota state House race for District 54A has sparked calls for a new election after 21 ballots were reported missing in Shakopee. The seat, won by Democrat Brad Tabke by just 14 votes, flipped from Republican Aaron Paul in a critical contest for party control.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar stated that the ballots were likely discarded in their secrecy envelopes before being counted. An audit revealed that some voters who checked in did not have their votes included in the final count, raising serious questions about the process.
House Republican Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth declared that Republicans would file an election contest. “With 20 ballots missing and no way to recover them, it’s impossible to declare a winner,” Demuth said, emphasizing the need for transparency.
Confusion during election night highlighted procedural errors. Shakopee officials struggled with absentee ballot processing, eventually handing off remaining ballots to Scott County. Later audits exposed discrepancies, fueling Republican concerns over the results.
This race is one of two Minnesota contests that flipped overnight from Republican to Democrat. Paul held a 360-vote lead earlier in the evening, only to lose by 14 votes after updates hours later.
Republicans argue that voter confidence depends on ensuring fairness. With the Minnesota House currently tied 67-67, the stakes of the contested race are significant for the future balance of power.
