MN State Auditor Race Live Results: Ryan Wilson Vs. Julie Blaha

ST. PAUL, MN — Results continue to come in for the extremely competitive Minnesota State Auditor race, but there likely won't be a projected winner for several more hours.

The race for state auditor rarely gets much attention. However, the state government's financial watchdog is an important and powerful role, and Republicans hope they can flip the office their way.

Live unofficial results, last updated: 12:48 a.m. Wednesday

• Republican Ryan Wilson — 1,100,474 votes
• Democratic-Farmer-Labor Julie Blaha — 1,127,374 votes

Republicans have not won a statewide office in Minnesota since 2006. But polls leading up to Election Day showed Republican challenger Ryan Wilson leading incumbent Julie Blaha, a Democrat.

Blaha is hoping to win a second term in office. The state auditor is in charge of overseeing local governments and carrying out audits, but Blaha has also made abortion rights a part of her campaign.

"A big part of local government is to fund healthcare," Blaha said in a statement late last month. "You need an auditor that understands that abortion is a part of healthcare."

Patch will provide live updates as ballots are counted in Minnesota's State Auditor Race

In an email to Patch, Blaha said that "as Minnesota’s State Auditor, I oversee about $60 billion dollars in government funds, mostly at the local level. And if you care about your freedom to make decisions in your own community, you care who your state auditor is."

"We do that through examinations like audits and investigations, support with training and financial tools, and data analysis so you can make decisions based on facts," she continued.

"You deserve a state auditor who focuses on you and your local community, instead of chasing self-serving headlines. I’d be honored to have your vote."

Meanwhile, Wilson has criticized Blaha over the Feeding Our Future scandal.

"The biggest issues the state auditor faces is fighting waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars and ensuring funds make it to intended programs," Wilson told Patch in an email.

"The state auditor must also help our communities understand where their education funding is going so school districts can craft solutions to help our students recover from post-pandemic learning loss. It is also essential that the state auditor protects Minnesotans’ pensions and ensures that they achieve a strong return on investment and do not become underfunded. These will be my priorities when I am state auditor."