State Rep. Wolgamott widens lead in close race after county discovers mail-in ballot tally error

A narrow winning margin for the DFL candidate for a St. Cloud-area seat in the Minnesota House has widened.

Election night returns showed DFL state Rep. Dan Wolgamott defeating Republican challenger Sue Ek by 28 votes in District 14B. A revised tally has the Wolgamott edge at 191 votes.

The race had been one of two state contests scheduled for recounts that could decide whether the Minnesota House is evenly split, with 67 Republicans and 67 DFLers.

But on Friday morning, Sherburne County announced that election staff identified some mail-in absentee ballots that were not included in the unofficial totals on election night. Those additional ballots gave Wolgamott a larger vote edge, which would put the race outside the margin for an automatic recount, barring any more changes.

County officials say it appears a ballot-scanning machine at the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River did not fully transfer data to the state election reporting system. The delayed upload was limited to one scanner.

In a news release, Sherburne County Administrator Bruce Messelt said the case highlights why election results are unofficial "until all tabulations and totals are checked and double checked," and the canvassing board certifies the election results.

"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," Messelt said.

The additional votes did not change the outcome of any races. Ek did not immediately return a call requesting comment.

DFLers and Republicans are gearing up for a recount in Shakopee. State Rep. Brad Tabke had an election night lead of 13 votes over Republican Aaron Paul. It is likely to be weeks before that recount occurs.