Coin Flip Breaks Tie in Wisconsin Village Trustee Race

Dalton Davis wins third seat after drawing tails in coin flip with opponent Shauna Keel.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:04pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting of a spinning coin in shades of silver, gray, and blue, with the coin's surface reflecting the faces of the two candidates, conceptually representing the use of a coin flip to resolve a tied election.A coin flip decides the outcome of a tied election, highlighting the role of chance in democratic processes.Hortonville Today

In a rare occurrence, the race for Village Trustee in Hortonville, Wisconsin ended in a tie between candidates Dalton Davis and Shauna Keel, each receiving 356 votes. According to state law, the Village Board of Canvassers resolved the tie by flipping a coin, with Davis winning the third and final Trustee seat after the coin landed on tails.

Why it matters

Tied elections are uncommon but can happen, and Wisconsin state law has a clear process for resolving such situations through a random chance method like a coin flip. This highlights the importance of having established procedures to ensure fairness and integrity in local elections, even in the most unexpected circumstances.

The details

The Village Trustee race in Hortonville had four candidates, with the top three earning seats. While Julie Arendet Vanden Heuvel and Therese Abitz were easily elected with 422 and 405 votes respectively, Davis and Keel tied at 356 votes each. Under Wisconsin Statute 5.01(4), the Village Board of Canvassers resolved the tie by flipping a coin, with Davis being assigned tails and Keel heads. The coin landed on tails, making Davis the third and final Village Trustee.

  • The 2026 Wisconsin Spring General Election took place on April 7, 2026.
  • The Village Trustee race in Hortonville resulted in a tie on election night, April 7, 2026.
  • The Village Board of Canvassers resolved the tie by flipping a coin on April 8, 2026.

The players

Julie Arendet Vanden Heuvel

One of the three candidates elected as Village Trustee, receiving the most votes at 422.

Therese Abitz

One of the three candidates elected as Village Trustee, receiving the second most votes at 405.

Dalton Davis

One of the two candidates who tied for the third Village Trustee seat, winning the position after a coin flip.

Shauna Keel

One of the two candidates who tied for the third Village Trustee seat, losing the position after a coin flip.

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What they’re saying

“While it's not the typical way to decide an election, we followed the state law to the letter to ensure a fair and impartial outcome.”

— Village Board of Canvassers

What’s next

The newly elected Village Trustees, including Dalton Davis, will be sworn in at the next Village Board meeting on April 15, 2026.

The takeaway

This rare tied election in Hortonville highlights the importance of having clear, established procedures to resolve unexpected outcomes and maintain the integrity of the democratic process, even at the most local levels of government.