In a bid to gain control of the tied 67-67 Minnesota House, Republicans are contesting two general election results with legal action. The first lawsuit was announced by House Republicans in House District 54A, where Democratic-Farmer-Labor Rep. Brad Tabke is leading by 15 votes after a recount. House Speaker-designate Rep. Lisa Demuth cited “inconsistencies in vote reporting” and “21 missing ballots” as reasons for the legal action. It was later determined that the discrepancy was likely due to human error during the collection of absentee ballots. Additionally, GOP candidate Paul Wikstrom filed an election contest against DFL opponent Curtis Johnson in House District 40B, alleging that Johnson does not live in the district.
Republicans are eager to take full control of the House after flipping three DFL seats earlier this month. They are currently negotiating a power-sharing agreement with House leaders. Wikstrom’s affidavit detailed measures taken to prove Johnson’s alleged residency outside the district, such as monitoring his whereabouts and checking utility accounts at his Roseville apartment. Despite the allegations, Johnson has not responded to requests for comment.
Proving residency issues can be challenging, as seen in a similar case in 2016 where a Republican candidate was disqualified for not residing in his district. These legal challenges highlight the importance of ensuring fair and accurate election results, as well as the intense competition for control of the Minnesota House.
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