Recounts set stage for rematches in southwest metro House districts

Two of the closest Minnesota House races in 2024 were in neighboring districts in suburbs southwest of the Twin Cities.

In Shakopee’s 54A, it took a recount and courtroom drama to finalize Democrat Brad Tabke’s reelection by 14 votes. Republican challenger Aaron Paul’s lawsuit over missing ballots muddled the result into January before a judge confirmed Tabke’s win. 

By then, DFLer Lucy Rehm’s 48B race was settled in the Chanhassen and Chaska area. A partial recount paid for by her Republican opponent, Caleb Steffenhagen, ultimately confirmed her 225-vote reelection.

Apart from tight elections, these districts share a trend of red-to-blue shifts over the last decade. Tabke and Rehm were the first Democrats to represent their areas in the House in decades. 

Each district features a rematch this year. And although they share borders, they feature distinct points of contention on campaign trails.&nb...