# Brad Tabke

Brad Tabke (pronounced /tæbkiː/; born May 11, 1979) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023, having previously served from 2019 to 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Tabke represents District 54A in the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the city of Shakopee and parts of Scott County.

## Early life, education, and career

Tabke was raised in Moville, Iowa. He attended Iowa State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in horticulture.
Tabke owns a consulting firm in downtown Shakopee and is a founder of the Shakopee Diversity Alliance. He is a former member of the Transportation Advisory Board for the Metropolitan Council, former chair of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, and former chair of the Shakopee Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Tabke was mayor of Shakopee, first elected in 2011 and reelected in 2013.

## Minnesota House of Representatives

Tabke was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, defeating Erik Mortensen, who beat Republican incumbent Bob Loonan in a primary. Tabke lost reelection in 2020 against Mortensen. Tabke ran again and defeated Mortensen in 2022 and is serving his second non-consecutive term. In 2024, he was reelected by 15 votes after a recount. The Republican Party challenged this result in court by after an error by election administrators caused 21 ballots to go missing; the judge ruled in Tabke's favor, confirming the result and denying a request for a special election.
Tabke is the vice-chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Committee, and sits on the Agriculture Finance and Policy, Commerce Finance and Policy, and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committees. He also serves as an assistant majority leader for the DFL House Caucus.

## Electoral history

2011 Shakopee mayoral election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Brad Tabke | 2,254 | 54.21 |
| | Nonpartisan | John J Schmitt | 1,889 | 45.43 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 15 | 0.36 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,158 | 100.0 |
2013 Shakopee mayoral election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Nonpartisan | Brad Tabke | 2,924 | 64.59 |
| | Nonpartisan | Matt Lehman | 1,576 | 34.81 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 27 | 0.60 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,527 | 100.0 |
2018 Minnesota State House - District 55A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Brad Tabke | 8,984 | 51.53 |
| | Republican | Erik Mortensen | 8,382 | 48.07 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 70 | 0.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,436 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican |
2020 Minnesota State House - District 55A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Erik Mortensen | 10,926 | 47.41 |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Brad Tabke (incumbent) | 10,372 | 45.00 |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Ryan Martin | 1,706 | 7.40 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 44 | 0.19 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 23,048 | 100.0 |
| | Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) | Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) | Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) | Republican gain from Democratic (DFL) |
2022 Minnesota State House - District 54A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Brad Tabke | 8,243 | 51.78 |
| | Republican | Erik Mortensen (incumbent) | 6,923 | 43.49 |
| | Legal Marijuana Now | Ryan Martin | 690 | 4.33 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 63 | 0.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,919 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican | Democratic (DFL) gain from Republican |
2024 Minnesota State House - District 54A :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic (DFL) | Brad Tabke (incumbent) | 10,980 | 49.95 |
| | Republican | Aaron Paul | 10,965 | 49.89 |
| | | All other ballots | 1,035 | 4.50 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,980 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold | Democratic (DFL) hold |

## Personal life

Tabke and his wife, Katy, have two children. He has resided in Shakopee since 2003.