Why the AP has not called Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District race
AP estimates 99% of votes counted as DFL challenger Jake Johnson leads Republican Rep. Brad Finstad by 322 votes
SAINT PAUL, Minn. (KTTC) – Nearly one week after the midterm election, The Associated Press has not called the race for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District.
The AP has not provided a direct response to KTTC about why the race remains uncalled. According to the AP’s own reporting, the organization relies on its estimate of how many votes remain to be counted to ensure the trailing candidate has no path to overtake the leading candidate before it calls a race.
As of its last update Sunday, the AP estimates 99% of votes have been counted in the 1st District.
Where the vote count stands
According to the latest results from the Secretary of State’s Office, DFL challenger Jake Johnson has 322 more votes than Republican incumbent Brad Finstad. The difference amounts to one-tenth of a percent.
The results show 100% of precincts in the district reporting.
Peter Bartz-Gallagher, communications director for the Secretary of State’s Office, said 100% means all Election Day results, as well as absentee and early voting results, have been received from the counties within the 1st District.
Why the results are not final
Bartz-Gallagher said it is not uncommon for totals to change in minor ways as counties go through the post-election process.
Finstad’s vote totals have not changed. Johnson’s total has increased by one vote as of Monday.
Counties are checking all of their election-related work, reviewing data entries, ensuring all ballots are accounted for and performing a post-election review to confirm counts match those generated by voting equipment. The counties’ review findings then go to the State Canvassing Board.
What happens next
The State Canvassing Board meets Nov. 19. Results become official at that meeting.
The five-member board includes the secretary of state, two members of the state Supreme Court and two district court judges.
A recount is anticipated. A request for a recount cannot be made until after the state’s certification, which is expected late next week.
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