47° and Overcast
MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Anoka County House Race Heads Toward Recount as Nolan West and Amanda Matchett Are Separated by Just 22 Votes
The closely contested District 32A election, covering portions of Blaine and Ham Lake and the city of Columbus, remains unresolved as Minnesota election officials prepare to review one of the state's narrowest legislative margins.
BLAINE, MN (November 5, 2026).
One of Minnesota's closest legislative elections is unfolding in Anoka County, where Republican state Rep. Nolan West and Democratic challenger Amanda Matchett were separated by just 22 votes following Tuesday's general election.
The contest for Minnesota House District 32A is expected to proceed to a publicly funded recount because the reported margin falls within the threshold established by state law.
According to results reported Wednesday by FOX 9, West had received approximately 50% of the vote, while Matchett held approximately 49.91%, with 99% of votes counted.
The district includes portions of Blaine and Ham Lake and all of Columbus, making the contest especially consequential for communities in the northern Twin Cities metropolitan area.
The reported margin is sufficiently small that the outcome cannot responsibly be treated as settled before election officials complete the applicable canvassing and recount procedures.
Why the Contest Matters
The race takes place against a broader change in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Democrats secured an outright majority in the chamber during Tuesday's election, ending the 67-67 partisan division that had complicated legislative organization during the previous session.
The District 32A result will not determine which party controls the House based on the currently reported statewide totals, but it will determine which candidate represents residents of the district during the next legislative term.
That representation matters for decisions involving school funding, transportation, property taxes, housing, public safety and state assistance to local governments.
For residents of Blaine, Ham Lake and Columbus, the election also demonstrates how individual ballots can influence representation when the margin between candidates is exceptionally narrow.
What Happens During a Recount
A recount is a formal process for reviewing ballots and determining whether the original tabulation accurately reflected the votes cast.
It does not automatically mean that wrongdoing occurred or that the original result was inaccurate.
Election officials follow established procedures governing ballot handling, examination and the reporting of recount results.
Minnesota law provides for publicly funded recounts in qualifying close contests, including certain legislative elections.
The process can confirm the original totals or produce changes where ballots were initially counted differently.
Until the appropriate election authorities complete the process, the reported 22-vote margin remains provisional.
The Broader Political Context
The District 32A race is among the contests receiving heightened attention following a statewide election in which Democrats gained seats in both legislative chambers.
The result will determine whether West continues representing the district or Matchett becomes its next representative.
Both candidates and their supporters have an interest in an accurate count, and residents have an interest in a transparent process that follows Minnesota law.
For Anoka County voters, the most important immediate development is not speculation about which candidate might ultimately prevail. It is the completion of the election process and the establishment of a verified result.
THE TAKEAWAY
A 22-vote difference has placed a northern Anoka County legislative election under statewide scrutiny.
The contest offers a reminder that local representation can be decided by extraordinarily small margins and that Minnesota's recount procedures exist to establish accurate results in close elections.
MinneapoliMedia will continue following the District 32A outcome as election officials complete the required process.
STAY CONNECTED TO MINNEAPOLIMEDIA
Local stories matter. Subscribe free to MinneapoliMedia and receive independent news, community reporting and important updates from Minneapolis, the North Metro and communities across Minnesota.
SUBSCRIBE FREE: https://minneapolimedia.town.news/subscribe
MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life
