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A recount of votes in a pivotal state Senate race got underway Monday in Benton and Sherburne counties with Stearns County on tap for Tuesday.


The recount will determine if Republican Jerry Relph's 

 over DFLer Dan Wolgamott in Senate District 14 stands up. More importantly, it will dictate which party has a 34-to-33 seat Senate majority entering next year's legislative session. 


A lot of eyes are on this very tedious process playing out at four folding tables inside a government center in Elk River. One at a time, ballots are displayed to representatives for Relph and Wolgamott and put into piles for each candidate. Unless one side decides to object. 


Earlier in the day, only one ballot was challenged in Benton County. That's important because Wolgamott has considerable ground to make up if he's going to win the St. Cloud-area seat and if his DFL Party is going to keep one of the two legislative chambers.

Election 2016

The flip in power was somewhat unexpected. Democrats had a decent cushion heading into the election and typically perform better in presidential years when turnout is high.


Most around the Capitol, though, are proceeding as if Relph's win and the new GOP majority will hold up. But they all realize the balance of power is very slim.


"I've already talked to our members and saying if you have a bad cough, if you have a heart condition, if you have a habit of drinking and driving, check it at the door because we have to be better than that with only a one-vote margin, said Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove.

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, is the Senate's majority leader now but will soon be the DFL's minority leader this time next month. He says it will be up to Republicans to get legislation passed.


"I often say when you are in the minority you never have to take a bad vote. It's the majority's job to govern," he said. Republicans "were very critical over the course of the campaign of our health insurance marketplace in Minnesota. So it will be interesting to see how they now make the pivot. It is easier to campaign than it is to govern."


The vote count didn't change at all Monday, pending challenges that will be sorted out by the state canvassing board next week. About 3,500 ballots were examined in under two hours Monday. Tuesday is sure to be longer, with more than 31,000 to get through.

Brian Bakst

Author

The recount will decide if a 148-vote GOP Election Day victory stands, tipping Senate control to Republicans next year. There's a lot at stake. But it's a tedious process.

With MN Senate control in the balance, St. Cloud area recount churns on

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