Scott County has certified an election for Minnesota House District 54A, giving the victory to incumbent Rep Brad Tabke (DFL – Shakopee) by a margin of only 14 votes. However, the Scott County attorney, Ron Hocevar, admitted in a letter that 20 ballots in Shakopee precinct 10 were thrown in the trash by an election official and are unrecoverable. If Tabke is not the victor, Republicans take control of the Minnesota House – which is huge considering the Democrats have a one person majority in the State Senate and Governor Tim Walz is still in office.
The entire Scott County Attorney’s letter of findings can be found here, but the most important part is the conclusions that were drawn.
The House Republican Campaign Committee and the Aaron Paul campaign (Tabke’s opponent) are contesting the election by filing suit in the Minnesota Supreme Court and asking for the Court to determine a “vacancy” once the current term of Tabke’s ends with the swearing in of the new legislature in January. This would require a writ of special election to be issued by Governor Tim Walz and a new election to be held likely in February. With Tabke not taking office in January, the Republicans would have a 67 to 66 majority in the Minnesota House.
House District 54A is a huge swing district. It was won by the Democrat, Brad Tabke in 2018. Then Republican Erik Mortensen won it in 2020. Tabke won it back in the 2022 Midterms. And the victor of 2024 is in dispute.
It’s important to note that we have not heard from the County who the election official is that threw the ballots in the trash and what is the employment status of that individual. This clearly should not only be grounds for immediate firing, but should be criminally prosecuted.
