Hard to believe, but its true. As of today, the GOP has no candidate for president on the ballot in Minnesota.

It might be sheer incompetence or it might be a clever ploy by Trump to avoid a Mondale-esque 50 state blow-out by deliberately not appearing on the ballot in at least one state so he can say he didn’t lose there.

This is the story

The filing deadline in Minnesota is August 29 (Monday) but it is not clear that the Minnesota GOP will be able to complete the filing requirements in time to meet the deadline. The MN GOP tried an ad hoc fix last night, but it seems like their action is probably not going to pass muster with the MN Secretary of State as it apparently was improper.

UPDATE: The #MNGOP failed to elect alternate presidential electors – so the state exec committee did it tonight – without clear authority.

— Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) August 25, 2016

So after electing the alternate electors tonight, the #MNGOP will submit Trump/Pence names to SOS office for placement on MN ballot.

— Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) August 25, 2016

No procedure for #MNGOP state exec to elect/appoint national electors – problem now for #MNGOP in sending Trump's name to SOS for ballot.

— Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) August 25, 2016

Again: Process for Trump to be on MN ballot. #MNGOP didn't officially elect alternate electors – trouble ahead? Yep. pic.twitter.com/oaEZQEw3AA

— Michael Brodkorb (@mbrodkorb) August 25, 2016

In the end, Trump will probably get on the ballot because a state would be very reluctant to strike a major party candidate from the ballot based on a filing blunder. If the state does allow it, though, you can bet there are people just waiting to sue.