A political battle unfolds in Minnesota's suburban district as missing ballots threaten to reshape the state legislature's power dynamics.
According to AP News, Minnesota Republicans filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to invalidate Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke's 14-vote victory in District 54A after investigators discovered that election workers likely destroyed 20 valid absentee ballots.
The disputed election has significant implications for the Minnesota House's balance of power, where both parties are currently working on a power-sharing agreement based on an anticipated 67-67 tie when the Legislature convenes next month. The controversy centers around Scott County, where election officials failed to account for 21 absentee ballots during a post-election audit.
County Attorney Ronald Hocevar's preliminary investigation concluded that election workers most likely discarded at least 20 absentee ballots, which may have already been processed for recycling. The investigation revealed that these ballots, all from the same precinct, were properly accepted for counting on October 17 but were likely never removed from their security envelopes before being disposed of.
The situation has raised serious concerns about election integrity and proper ballot handling procedures. According to the lawsuit filed by House Republicans on behalf of GOP candidate Aaron Paul, the situation makes it impossible to rely on the election results.
House Minority Leader Rep. Lisa Demuth expressed her stance on the matter, stating:
The actions of Scott County elections officials constitute a serious breach of not only Minnesota Election Law, but the public trust in our electoral system.
The outcome of this legal challenge could significantly alter the political landscape in Minnesota. If Republicans succeed in forcing a special election and secure a victory, they would gain a two-vote majority of 68-66 in the House, effectively ending the anticipated tie.
The state's political future remains uncertain as Minnesota prepares to transition to a divided government in 2025. With Democrats holding a one-vote majority in the state Senate, the resolution of this disputed race becomes even more crucial for determining the balance of legislative power.
This case draws parallels to a 2020 incident in Pennsylvania, where military ballots were mistakenly discarded by a temporary county election worker. However, those ballots were eventually retrieved and counted, unlike the current situation in Minnesota where the ballots may be permanently lost.
Minnesota House Democrats maintain their confidence in the original election outcome. Current Speaker Melissa Hortman has defended the results, emphasizing that Rep. Tabke won both on Election Night and in the recount.
This dispute is not isolated, as Republicans have also filed a separate lawsuit challenging another House race in the Roseville area. That case focuses on residency requirements rather than missing ballots, though its potential impact on the chamber's balance of power appears less significant.
The investigation continues to determine what happened to the twenty-first missing ballot, which was cast in a different precinct from the other twenty. The recycling of the paper bale containing the missing ballots has complicated efforts to recover the evidence.
The lawsuit filed by Minnesota Republicans seeks to declare the District 54A election results invalid and Rep. Brad Tabke's seat vacant due to the missing absentee ballots in Scott County. The case centers on 20 properly accepted ballots that were likely destroyed before being counted, potentially affecting the outcome of an election decided by just 14 votes.
The resolution of this dispute will determine whether the Minnesota House maintains its anticipated 67-67 tie or shifts to a 68-66 Republican majority, significantly impacting the state's legislative dynamics as it prepares for a divided government in 2025.
