Roger Skraba

REGIONAL- Veteran DFL state legislator Rob Ecklund’s electoral fate likely hangs on the results of a probable recount, as Republican Roger Skraba of Ely edged the incumbent District 3A House representative by only 15 votes in Tuesday’s general election.
After an undercount of votes from Morse Township was corrected Tuesday morning, Skraba beat Ecklund 10,868 to 10,853, a scant seven hundredths of a percentage point, 49.98 to 49.91.
The tiny difference falls well within the range of a recount paid for by the state, and Ecklund has until 5 p.m. Thursday to request one.
But Skraba expressed confidence on Tuesday that his lead would hold up.
“It would have been nice to have more than a 15-vote lead,” Skraba said. “We feel confident that all the votes are in. After the Morse anomaly got fixed, I don’t see us losing. Rarely are numbers that far off.”
In a curious twist, Skraba won in Ecklund’s hometown of International Falls, while Ecklund beat Skraba in Ely.
“I don’t get it,” said Skraba, Ely’s former mayor. “It’s like we traded. I don’t know if the people I represent don’t like what I do or if they’re changing from Republican to Democrat and the people in International Falls are changing from Democrat to Republican. It says something about the district --- it’s not guaranteed blue or red.”
Skraba won Koochiching County with 56.3 percent of the vote, while Ecklund took 69.5 percent of the vote in Cook County and 51.5 precent in Lake County. St. Louis and Itasca County voters gave Skraba the edge with 52.5 percent 57.9 percent, respectively.
Skraba said he had assistance from the House Republican Campaign Committee in plotting out an aggressive campaign strategy that led to him putting over 25,000 miles on his car stumping for votes.
“I easily spent $500 a week on fuel,” Skraba said. “This district is so big.”
But Skraba noted that all the travel paid off.
“I think they decided I’m worth two years to see if I can prove myself,” he said.