GOP files suit over recount in governor’s race
If you think that the recent Presidential election was hotly contested, you clearly have NOT been paying attention to the Governor’s race in the state of Washington. Here it is, 20 days past election day, and there is still no winner.
Of course, the loser will getting some groovy parting gifts….
The state Republican Party filed a lawsuit in federal court late yesterday afternoon, alleging that King County election workers are improperly recounting ballots in the tightly contested gubernatorial race between Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire.
Election officials denied the allegations and said they’re following long-standing state procedures to ensure that every valid vote is counted.
Rossi, who is seeking to become the first Republican elected governor in Washington since 1980, leads Democratic state Attorney General Gregoire by 261 votes among more than 2.8 million ballots counted, but a machine recount was ordered Wednesday when the official statewide counting ended. Among the counties that began their recounts yesterday were King, Pierce, Skagit and Spokane.
The lawsuit could decide the fate of at least 306 ballots in King County, a stronghold for Democrats where Gregoire won with 57 percent of the votes. It could also delay the recount beyond its scheduled conclusion Wednesday, if a judge suspends counting while the lawsuit is sorted out.
Yes, kids, this is why we have lawyers. While barristers representing both parties are debating how many angels can dance on the head of that metaphorical pin, it is difficult to lose sight of the fact that the current results are about as tight as tight can be. Out of 2.8 million votes that have been counted, Republican Dino Rossi leads Democrat Christine Gregoire by 261 votes. How close is this race? It’s close enough that it’s front page news when one candidate picks up A SINGLE VOTE.
The good news in this scenario is that those involved are, for the most part, allowing the system to work. Yes, the process will be highly contentious, and it may well come down the the tiebreaker specified in the Washington state constitution. If memory serves, that tiebreaker is either flintlock pistols at 20 paces or an outdoor oil-wrestling match between the candidates at sunrise. I’ll have to check on that.
