In the too-close-to-call race for Montgomery County executive, David Blair plans to request a full recount.
In the too-close-to-call race for Montgomery County executive, David Blair plans to request a full recount.
“After several weeks of counting and virtually all votes recorded, the Associated Press has declared this race too close to call. Given the extremely close margin, we will be requesting a full recount and are hopeful that the outcome will be in our favor,” Blair said in a news release Sunday morning.
The final 34 votes will be counted Sunday in the race between Blair and incumbent Marc Elrich.
After a day of canvassing and counting provisional ballots, election workers were sent home Saturday night with incumbent Elrich leading challenger Blair by just 42 votes. Elrich had 39.2%, with 55,469 votes. Blair had 39.17%, with 55,427 votes.
Elrich declared himself the winner late Saturday night, saying in a statement that he was honored to become the Democratic nominee after a long and “certainly exciting” primary.
“Now, with the certain results, we must work together to ensure Montgomery County remains solidly Democratic and turns out for Wes Moore and our entire Democratic ticket,” he said.
I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for County Executive. I want to thank the voters. I love this county and care about our residents so very deeply. This primary has been a long journey. Thank you also to @777Vote staff for your tireless work. pic.twitter.com/Fq9eaV9vyy
— Marc Elrich (@Marc_Elrich) August 7, 2022
Under state election law, the trailing candidate can request a recount within three days of the certification of the vote.
This year’s close race is a repeat of the last Democratic primary for county executive, where in 2018, Elrich edged out Blair by just 77 votes.
State election officials told WTOP they hope to have completed and certified Maryland’s primary election votes by Aug. 12.
WTOP’s Juan Herrera and Kate Ryan contributed to this report.
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