Spring Lake Park Mayoral Race Ends in Tie, Decision to Be Made by Random Drawing
The mayoral election in Spring Lake Park has resulted in a tie, with both incumbent Mayor Bob Nelson and challenger Halyn Roth receiving 1,401 votes. The winner will be decided by a random drawing.
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, November 9, 2026 — In an unprecedented turn of events for Spring Lake Park, the municipal mayoral election has concluded with an exact tie. Both incumbent Mayor Bob Nelson and his challenger, Halyn Roth, have each secured 1,401 votes, leaving the outcome of the race undetermined by the ballot count.
The close contest means that the final decision on who will lead Spring Lake Park will now be made through a random drawing. Election officials confirmed the final tally late Tuesday, revealing the identical vote count for both candidates. This rare occurrence necessitates a procedural method to break the deadlock, as outlined in local election protocols.
Mayor Bob Nelson, seeking to continue his tenure, and Halyn Roth, who mounted a campaign to unseat the incumbent, will await the results of this definitive drawing. The specific date and time for the random drawing have not yet been publicly announced. This method, often referred to as a coin toss or drawing of lots, is a recognized way to resolve electoral ties when all other counting and auditing procedures have been exhausted and a clear winner cannot be determined.
The tie signifies a deeply divided electorate in Spring Lake Park, with voters evenly split between the two candidates. As the community awaits the final resolution, election officials are preparing for the random drawing process, ensuring it adheres to established guidelines for fairness and transparency.
Story summarized from the original created by Joseph Swanson on kstp.com, see more information here.
