In an unexpected turn today the Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered the name of DFL-endorsed candidate Erik Simonson onto the Nov. 7 House 7B ballot. Simonson was running a write-in campaign after State Rep. Kerry Gauthier dropped out of the race amid a personal scandal.

This order removes much of the election day confusion that awaited voters in the district and political watchers wondering which party might control the state legislature next year. It also turns a scenario that might have been a gift GOP pick-up back into the safe DFL district it was before.

(h/t Sen. Roger Reinert)