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Florida orders recounts in Senate and governor's races Florida orders recount as Trump and Scott claim 'elections being stolen'
(about 2 hours later)
The Florida secretary of state has ordered recounts in the US Senate and governor races, an unprecedented review of two major elections in the state that took five weeks to decide the 2000 presidential election. Donald Trump and the Republican governor of Florida both claimed elections in the state were in danger of being “stolen”, after recounts were ordered in the Senate and gubernatorial races.
Donald Trump duly stoked controversy over the recounts, tweeting: “Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!” Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for the governor’s mansion, told reporters: “I am replacing my words of concession with an uncompromised and unapologetic call that we count every single vote.”
Secretary Ken Detzner issued the order on Saturday after unofficial results in both races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount. The Florida secretary of state, Ken Detzner, ordered the unprecedented review of major elections after unofficial results in both races fell within the margin that by law triggers a recount.
The unofficial results show that Ron DeSantis , the Republican former US representative, led Andrew Gillum, the Democratic Tallahassee mayor, by less than 0.5%, which will require a machine recount of ballots. Florida will also conduct a hand recount in a third statewide race. Democrat Nikki Fried had a razor-thin lead over Republican state representative Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner, one of Florida’s three cabinet seats.
In the Senate race, Republican governor Rick Scott’s lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is less than 0.25%, which will require a hand recount of ballots from tabulation machines that could not determine which candidate got the vote. In the Senate race, Republican governor Rick Scott’s lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is less than 0.25%, therefore triggering a hand recount of ballots from tabulation machines that could not determine which candidate got the vote.
Florida is also conducting a hand recount in a third statewide race. Democrat Nikki Fried had a razor-thin lead over Republican state representative Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner, one of Florida’s three cabinet seats. Nelson said his campaign would continue taking action to ensure every vote is counted without interference or efforts to undermine the democratic process.
“We believe when every legal ballot is counted we’ll win this election,” the senator said in a statement.
Scott urged every sheriff in the state to watch for any violations during the recount process as outlined in Florida law, and to take appropriate actions.
“We will not let unethical liberals steal this election!” he wrote on Twitter, echoing the president who endorsed him.
Trump tweeted: “Trying to STEAL two big elections in Florida! We are watching closely!”
In the governor’s race, the unofficial results show Ron DeSantis, the Republican former US representative, leading Gillum, the Democratic Tallahassee mayor, by less than 0.5%, requiring a machine recount.
DeSantis has said little about the recount and is instead proceeding as if he won the election, appointing a transition team and preparing to take office in January. Gillum conceded on Tuesday night but when results began to narrow he said every vote should count.
On Saturday, the man who is trying become Florida’s first African American governor told reporters his team had organized a cadre of hundreds of volunteers and lawyers to move across the state and fight against voter suppression and for a fair count.
“This process is not over until every single vote is counted,” Gillum said. “The outcome of this election will have consequences beyond who wins and who loses. How we handle this election in this process will have reverberations for democracy, for an entire generation of voters.”
Saturday’s development’s return Florida to the center of a major political drama, 18 years after an infamous presidential recount left control of the White House undecided for more than a month.Saturday’s development’s return Florida to the center of a major political drama, 18 years after an infamous presidential recount left control of the White House undecided for more than a month.
In 2000, it took more than five weeks for Florida to declare George W Bush the victor over vice-president Al Gore by 537 votes, thus giving Bush the presidency.In 2000, it took more than five weeks for Florida to declare George W Bush the victor over vice-president Al Gore by 537 votes, thus giving Bush the presidency.
Florida was mocked for the way it handled the recount, especially since there was no uniform process then on how to proceed. That has changed, with the state legislature passing a clear procedure on how recounts should be conducted.Florida was mocked for the way it handled the recount, especially since there was no uniform process then on how to proceed. That has changed, with the state legislature passing a clear procedure on how recounts should be conducted.
The latest developments underscore the deep divide in one of the most critical states in US politics. Beyond determining the governorship, it will decide whether Nelson returns to Washington for a fourth term or whether Republicans will pad their majority in the Senate.The latest developments underscore the deep divide in one of the most critical states in US politics. Beyond determining the governorship, it will decide whether Nelson returns to Washington for a fourth term or whether Republicans will pad their majority in the Senate.
Florida’s 67 counties will decide when to begin the recounts. They could start the moment Detzner issued his order, or wait until Sunday or Monday. But they must finish the machine recounts by 3pm on Thursday. Hand recounts will be reflected in official election results due on 18 November.Florida’s 67 counties will decide when to begin the recounts. They could start the moment Detzner issued his order, or wait until Sunday or Monday. But they must finish the machine recounts by 3pm on Thursday. Hand recounts will be reflected in official election results due on 18 November.
Gillum conceded to DeSantis on Tuesday night, but when the results began to narrow he said that every vote should count and he was not expected to block a recount. DeSantis has said little about the recount and is instead proceeding as if he won the election, appointing a transition team and preparing to take office in January.
The battle for Nelson’s Senate seat has been much more heated, both sides filing lawsuits. Scott has said Nelson is trying to steal the election, while Nelson is accusing Scott of trying to stop elections officials from counting every ballot.
Trump has also weighed in. Trump took Scott’s side on Friday, telling reporters that the federal government could get involved and adding: “All of the sudden they are finding votes out of nowhere.”
“What’s going on in Florida is a disgrace,” he said.
US midterms 2018US midterms 2018
US politicsUS politics
FloridaFlorida
RepublicansRepublicans
DemocratsDemocrats
US CongressUS Congress
US SenateUS Senate
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