Democrats win Washington recount

by on December 30th, 2004

http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7209980

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Democrat Christine Gregoire was officially named Washington’s governor-elect on Thursday, 58 days and two recounts after the closest election in the state’s history.

But officials at the secretary of state’s office, which certified Gregoire as the winner, warned that any voter could still go to court to contest the results. Gregoire lost the Nov. 2 election by 261 votes and lost again in a machine recount of ballots by 42 votes.

But she emerged the winner over Republican Dino Rossi by 129 votes after the Democratic party spent more than $700,000 for a hand recount of ballots.

It was not immediately clear whether Rossi, who has not conceded and has called himself governor-elect, would challenge Gregoire’s narrow victory out of 2.8 million cast.

Etalkinghead Staff