Minnesota election contests

Election results in Minnesota have led to potential recounts and political rematches. In House District 54A, Brad Tabke and Aaron Paul are entering a rematch following a highly contested 2024 election where Tabke won by 14 votes. That previous cycle involved a legal battle over uncounted ballots and a judge ruling that a new election was unnecessary.

In the race for the U.S. House of Representatives in Minnesota’s First Congressional District, DFL challenger Jake Johnson holds a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. Following the reporting of 100% of the votes across all 750 precincts, Johnson leads by approximately 323 to 324 votes, with Johnson holding roughly 49.99% to Finstad’s 49.89%.

Because the margin is less than 0.25%, the results meet the threshold for a state-mandated, publicly funded recount. While Johnson, a math teacher from Rochester, has declared victory, the race has not been officially called. Johnson’s performance in the Rochester area, where he won with a 62.15% to 37.73% margin, helped narrow the gap in Olmsted County. Johnson’s campaign raised over $3.5 million, compared to $2.79 million for Finstad, a fourth-generation farmer who previously won the seat by 17 points in 2024.