A Minnesota state House race decided by a razor-thin 14-vote margin has sparked outrage after 21 ballots were reported missing in Shakopee. The race, which flipped from Republican Aaron Paul to Democrat incumbent Brad Tabke, has led Republicans to demand a new election.
Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar confirmed the ballots were likely discarded in their secrecy envelopes before being tabulated. An audit revealed that some voters checked in, but their votes were not included in the final count. “This unfortunate situation resulted in a level of confusion that should not have occurred,” Hocevar said.
Republicans argue that the missing ballots cast doubt on the race’s legitimacy. “With 20 ballots missing, it’s impossible to declare a winner with a 14-vote margin,” said House Republican Speaker-designate Lisa Demuth. She announced that Republicans would file an election contest to demand a new vote.
The timeline of events highlights significant discrepancies. On election night, Shakopee officials initially reported slow tabulation progress, later handing off the remaining ballots to Scott County. Despite assurances that totals matched, a later audit uncovered missing ballots.
This race, along with another Minnesota contest that flipped from Republican to Democrat overnight, has fueled concerns about late-night vote changes. Paul led by 360 votes with all precincts reporting, but by morning, he was trailing by 14 votes.
The investigation continues, but Republicans insist that election integrity must be prioritized. With the state House evenly split 67-67, the stakes are high, and the contested race could determine control of the chamber.
