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Florida: West Saga Continues

West has refused to concede his close race and is now asking for a recount of some ballots. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
West has refused to concede his close race and is now asking for a recount of some ballots. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Allen B. West, R-Fla., who trails his Democratic opponent with 100 percent of precincts reporting, went to court Tuesday, asking a judge to order a recount of all early votes in St. Lucie County, one of three counties in the reconfigured 18th district.

West also asked the court to keep the county “from certifying results of the election for the 18th Congressional District until all ballots cast during the early voting period have been counted,” according to a campaign statement.

The crux of the issue: the county recounted only some of the early votes after it said it would recount all of them. The St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections is a Democrat and the West campaign alleges impropriety.

“Simple math appears to be a problem,” Jason Torchinsky, an attorney for the West campaign, said on a conference call with reporters Wednesday.

West trails Democrat Patrick Murphy by about 1,900 votes, according The Associated Press.

West campaign manager Tim Edson was asked on the call if West will concede the race if he’s still behind after everything is cleared up.

“If we can get all these questions answered,” he said, West will “accept the outcome.”

 

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