Uncounted ballots discovered in House District 14B race; MN GOP demanding recount
The discovery of uncounted absentee ballots means the gap is widening in a tight race that could decide who controls the state House.
Democrat Dan Wolgamott previously beat Republican Sue Ek in the District 14B race in St. Cloud by 28 votes. At one point, it was reported that Ek had won by four votes.
Sherburne County election staff then found that some absentee ballots received through the mail were not included in unofficial totals uploaded to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office on election night.
After the addition of the newly found absentee ballots, there’s a 191-vote gap in favor of Wolgamott.
Updated unofficial results have now been uploaded for all countywide races and are available on the Secretary of State’s website.
“This is why election results are unofficial until all tabulations and totals are checked and double
checked, and the Canvassing Board meets and certifies the election results,” said County
Administrator Bruce Messelt. “This is also why procedures and multiple checks and balances are in
place to identify and correct such challenges, should they arise, in the processing and counting of
all cast ballots.”
Sherburne County says it will work with the candidates impacted by the changes to make sure the final results are fair and accurate.
Minnesota Republican Party Chair David Hann is now demanding Secretary of State Steve Simon investigate.
“Every Minnesotan deserves transparency when it comes to our elections,” Hann said. “The current discrepancies and additional votes being added to the HD 14B counts in the last few days destroys the trust Minnesotans have in the election process and raises serious questions. Secretary Simon must restore confidence in Minnesota’s elections process by calling for and providing funds for a recount in 14B, immediately.”
Right now, Democrats and Republicans are dead even in the House, 67 to 67. If the outcome of 14B doesn’t change, they’ll have to negotiate a power-sharing agreement.