Senate District 4 incumbent candidate Sen. Rob Kupec and challenger Austin Peterson take part in a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Red River Valley on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, at the Moorhead Public LIbrary. Credit: Anna Paige for MinnPost
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KFGO) – It could take until after Thanksgiving until the recount for the Minnesota Senate District 4 election is finished.
Republican Austin Peterson received four more votes than DFL State Senator Rob Kupec of Moorhead for the seat that represents most of Clay and Becker counties.
“There were people we called on Election Day who are like ‘I’m sick. I can’t make it.’ and you talk to people ‘My vote doesn’t matter.’ and you try to convince them it does,” Kupec said on “Afternoons Live”.
Kupec can request a recount 48 hours after the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office certifies election results. That’s expected to be done on November 19. A recount would be paid for by the state.
“The scanner machines we have in Minnesota, they will spit your ballot back out when it reads it if it detects an error. The error rates are generally fairly low,” Kupec explained.
“It’s a powerful reminder that every single vote matters and every voice counts,” Peterson said in a statement the day after Election Day. “We recognize a recount is ahead and we respect the process. We look forward to seeing it through.”
Kupec wasn’t surprised his race against was close.
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