Recount pending in suburban state House race
Minnesota's 2018 election is certified, but there's still at least one recount pending for a state House seat.
Democrat Donzel Leggett has requested a recount in the House District 47B race, which covers suburban cities including Chaska and Chanhassen in Carver County, after losing to Republican candidate Greg Boe by 117 votes. That's outside of the less than one half of 1 percent margin in state law that triggers an automatic, taxpayer-funded recount in Minnesota, but candidates can request and pay for a recount themselves.
The recount, which takes place Thursday, will be conducted by local election officials in the district, according to the Chaska Herald.
Leggett, the vice president of global manufacturing at General Mills, has already put down a deposit on the recount.
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"I'm requesting the recount because of the close margin of just over half of one percent (0.54%) combined with the irregularities that voters reported in multiple precincts in Chaska on election day," Leggett said in a statement to MPR News. "My team and I ran an incredibly positive campaign going door-to-door having conversations with thousands of Carver County residents. I want to ensure that each and every vote is counted in order to provide faith and trust in the new voting systems that were implemented for the first time."
The 47B seat was open on Nov. 6, after longtime Republican Rep. Joe Hoppe retired from politics.
In another state House recount this week in Bemidji, Democrat John Persell prevailed over Republican Rep. Matt Bliss. On election night, he Persell had won by just 8 votes, but that total grew to 11 votes after the recount.
Democrats regained the majority in the November election, picking up 18 seats, mostly in suburban districts.