Star Tribune
A detailed look at the legislative races going to a recount
Party control of the Minnesota House was uncertain heading into Tuesday’s election, and now it’s clear that two districts are heading to an automatic recount. Detailed precinct maps of each district, 14B in St. Cloud and 54A in Shakopee, show where each candidate had strength and where they were close to tying. If both current leaders prevail in their recounts, the House would be evenly divided with 67 DFLers and 67 Republicans.
This district, which includes central St. Cloud and surrounding Minden and Haven townships, saw 19,486 votes cast across 20 precincts. DFL Rep. Dan Wolgamott leads GOP challenger Sue Ek by 28 votes before the recount. Wolgamott’s support and largest margins came in the area near downtown St. Cloud. He prevailed in several St. Cloud precincts, but his margins were smaller. Ek, by comparison, drew substantial support in Minden and Haven townships, with margins nearing 50 percentage points or more. But those areas have fewer voters. She also saw strong support in two precincts in northwest St. Cloud.
In Shakopee, the race was even tighter. Just 13 votes separate DFL Rep. Brad Tabke and Republican challenger Aaron Paul here, where 21,895 votes were cast in 13 precincts. While Paul won in many precincts, his margins were small. Tabke had a nearly 11-point margin in northeast Shakopee and a 14-point margin in one precinct north of Shakopee High School. In one precinct near Canterbury Park, the two candidates were separated by a single vote.
Two other very tight races were called for the Republican candidates: District 3B north of Duluth and District 48B in Chanhassen and part of Chaska — the area just north and west of Shakopee’s tight contest.
In 3B, DFL challenger Mark Munger did predictably well in west Duluth and the precincts immediately on the outskirts of Duluth, while Republican Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar posted larger margins in Hermantown and several townships. She also posted an 18-point lead in Fredenberg Township, where both she and Munger reside. In the end, 160 votes separated the two across the district.
In 48B, there was a slightly larger vote margin between the two candidates. DFL Rep. Lucy Rehm notched 225 more votes than GOP challenger Caleb Steffenhagen. Steffenhagen prevailed in a few precincts in north and southeast Chanhassen, but posted his biggest margins in one Chaska precinct. Rehm had more votes in all the others, with a 10-point margin in the northeast corner of Chanhassen.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Royce White said Thursday that he is likely to run for the office again in two years, when Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s term runs out.
White first posted his latest plans on X, formerly Twitter. Asked for confirmation by phone, White said it’s “very likely” he will run against Smith, but said he is not ready to make a formal announcement. “I’m going to get a good 24-month run at Tina Smith,” White said.
A spokesperson for Smith did not return a call seeking information about her 2026 plans. An email to the Senator’s office was not returned Thursday.
Klobuchar beat White by more than 15 points, but it was the smallest margin she’s received in her four Senate campaigns, and White was also able to flip 29 rural counties that Klobuchar carried in 2018. Klobuchar beat GOP Jim Newberger by more than 24 points during her last run in 2018, Republican Kurt Bills by more than 34 points in 2012 and Republican Mark Kennedy by more than 20 points during her first run in 2006.
White said he is also considering running for governor in 2026. Gov. Tim Walz, who was part of Tuesday night’s losing presidential ticket, and whose term also ends in two years, has not yet revealed his plans.
“We’ll see how things shape up,” he said.
Investigators believe an unattended candle started that January blaze, devastating Pa Cheng Vang’s family and community members who mourned for his deceased children. Vang was at work at the time of the fire. Twin daughters Ntshiab Si and Siv Ntshiab, 5, and 4-year-old son Mauj Tshau Ntuj and 1-year-old 1-year-old Mauj CagTxuj Vaj died from the blaze. Surviving the blaze were 6-year-old Cag Kub Vaj, 6, and 3-year-old Hnub Qub Vaj, along with their mother, Ker Lor.
Mayor Melvin Carter worked with Lor when she interned at his office years ago. Carter said visits to meet their children in the hospital were gut-wrenching, but he felt inspired when Vang asked him to spread awareness so that fewer families suffer like his.
“[That was] very much a defining moment for our city, very much a defining moment for me, and very much a defining moment for the St. Paul Fire Department,” Carter said, thanking Ryks and Conlin. “Our first responders are the ones who run in to a situation when everybody else is running away. It sounds just like a sentence until you find yourself in the position that you two were in on Jan. 3 … but not only did you choose to go back in on that night, but you choose to go back in, everyday, on behalf of our community.”
Ryks and Conlin are now close friends. They sometimes talk to Vang and his family, and brought them gifts earlier this year. Fire department union officials also announced plans to donate $10,000 to the family.
When Conlin thinks back to the fire, he feels thankful that his training prepared him to help Vang’s family and others. He has been with the department 1 1/2 years, while Ryks has 5 1/2 years of service.
“I remember after the call I had an overwhelming sense of ‘Wow, I was prepared for that.’ I didn’t feel like I didn’t know what I was doing. It was an extremely, honestly overwhelming, circumstance, but it’s our job and we all knew what to do,” Conlin said.
The Cougars will face the winner of the Champlin Park-East Ridge semifinal on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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