Canvassing board certifies 2024 General Election results; recounts in two House races still outstanding

The State Canvassing Board certified the results of the 2024 General Election Thursday with the exception of two House races where recounts will be used to confirm the totals and could still tip the balance of power in the body.

As it stands, control of the House during the 2025-26 session is set to be shared after the Nov. 5 election, with 67 DFL members and 67 Republican members. It’s a nearly unprecedented deadlock that remains unofficial pending the results of two close races yet to be certified.

The recount in District 54A, where incumbent Rep. Brad Tabke (DFL-Shakopee) has a 14-vote lead over his Republican opponent Aaron Paul, began Thursday morning in Scott County.

The margin in District 14B is a bit larger. Rep. Dan Wolgamott (DFL-St. Cloud) holds a lead of just under 200 votes over Republican challenger Sue Ek. A recount is scheduled to be conducted Nov. 25 in Sherburne County. 

[MORE: View the recount results here]

Should either of those seats flip, Republicans would gain a majority in the House for the first time since 2018.

The five-member canvassing board met for just under 40 minutes Thursday to handle a slew of post-election tasks. Its duties include certifying results of statewide elections for state and federal office, and for judicial offices for contests that overlap more than one county.

Paul Linnell, the state’s acting elections director, told the board the District 54A recount is being overseen by Scott County since the district lies completely within that county’s boundaries. He said the District 14B recount is to begin Monday at 10 a.m. in Elk River. 

“We've been working closely with the Sherburne County auditor who for the contest in 14B will serve as the deputy recount official,” Linnell said.

With 3,272,414 Minnesotans casting ballots in the 2024 General Election, Linnell said turnout was about 20,000 less than during the 2020 presidential election.

But Secretary of State Steve Simon, who chairs the board that also includes two Minnesota Supreme Court judges and two district court judges, said the state currently leads the nation in voter turnout.

“Wisconsin trails narrowly, and there is some talk that there may still be votes to be counted, very few votes to be counted, in Wisconsin,” he said. “So, I just caution and warn that that could change. But, as of this moment, Minnesota is No. 1 in the country.”

Instead of adjourning Thursday’s meeting, the board recessed as it awaits reports from the two recounts and plans to resume its work once those are completed.