MN County To Fund Hand Recount In Pivotal 14B Race After Upload Error

SHERBURNE COUNTY, MN — Sherburne County announced Sunday it intends to conduct a hand recount of a race that could determine the control of the Minnesota House chamber.

The recount is not required under state law, and the state will not pay for it.

But controversy swirled around the House 14B (St. Cloud) race after unofficial vote totals shifted away from the Republican candidate.

Sherburne County officials acknowledged that some local ballot totals failed to upload to the Secretary of State's live results website on election night, but said actual results remain unchanged.

"Contrary to circulating rumors, no votes were 'lost' and none were 'found,'" county officials said. "All ballots cast in the General Election were properly and legally received, documented, counted, and chain of custody maintained."

On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Secretary of State's live results website showed Democratic Rep. Dan Wolgamott leading by 28 votes in the 14B race against Republican Sue Ek. That was within the .05 margin for an automatic recount.

But now, Wolgamott leads with 191 votes after additional ballots were counted, leaving him with 50.36 percent of the vote compared to Ek's 49.40 percent.

With that amount, a recount is no longer required under state law.

The Minnesota Republican Party said there needs to be one anyway:

Sue Ek, the Republican candidate for state representative in House District 14B, was initially reported as winning by four votes with one hundred percent of the precincts reporting on election night. A short time later, different totals were reported showing that she lost by 28 votes. We have now learned that additional ballots have been "found" and that the DFL candidate is leading by 181 votes. These discrepancies are not only suspect but need to be investigated and explained to Minnesotans immediately.

In a statement to Patch responding to the GOP's claims, the Secretary of State Office said "The process for recounts, including payment of costs, is clearly defined in state law."

Sherburne County has since stepped in and volunteered to pay for a hand recount, and the Secretary of State has given it preliminary approval to do so.

If the final unofficial results hold as is, the House will be deadlocked at 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats.

But one other recount could tip the balance in Republicans' favor. In Shakopee, Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke holds a razor-thin 13-vote lead over Republican challenger Aaron Paul. That race is headed for an automatic recount.

If neither of the two recounts change the outcome, the House Democrats and Republicans must agree on a power-sharing agreement for the equally split chamber.

The next legislative session begins Jan. 14, 2025.