Colorado Politics

Some Colorado House races may be headed to an automatic recount

Just when you thought the election was over.

At least two races for seats in the Colorado House of Representatives appear likely to head to an automatic recount, based on the latest results released Wednesday night by the Secretary of State’s office. And a third contest could join that list.

As of 8:30 a.m. Thursday, vote results for 2.1 million ballots had been announced, but according to the Secretary of State, more than 2.5 million voters cast ballots. That means results will continue to change and in some cases, the election-night totals aren’t holding up.

> RELATED: ELECTION 2018 | Democrats hang onto control of Colorado House

Vote totals will continue to change over the next week because counties are required to wait eight days after the election for overseas and military ballots to come in and be counted.

But based on unofficial and preliminary vote totals Wednesday afternoon, two races have tightened enough for an automatic recount. A recount takes place when the margin of victory is 0.5 percent or less for the winning candidate.

House District 47 covers Otero, Fremont and rural parts of Pueblo County. It was previously held by Republican Rep. Judy Reyher of Swink, who lost a primary challenge to Don Bendell of Florence.

Tuesday night’s election results showed Bendell with a lead over his Democratic challenger, Bri Buontello, of about 259 votes, just slightly under 1 percent. By Thursday morning, Buontello has a lead of 54 votes. Based on Buontello’s current vote tally of 15,275, the 0.5 percent trigger is about 76 votes or less.

House District 27 is the seat in north Jefferson County and Arvada currently held by Republican Rep. Lang Sias, who bowed out of his re-election bid to join the Walker Stapleton ticket as his choice for lieutenant governor. Republican Vicki Pyne led the tally on Tuesday night, but by Thursday morning, Democrat Brianna Titone had taken a lead of 12 votes. Based on her vote tally of 23,514, the 0.5 percent trigger is at around 118 votes or less.

The third race both parties are monitoring is in the Greeley House District 50 seat. Democratic Rep. Dave Young held that seat but was term-limited and he is now the state treasurer-elect. The contest is between Democrat Rochelle Galindo and Republican Michael Thuener.

Thuener led by a small margin on Tuesday night, but by Thursday morning, Galindo had taken a lead of 70 votes. Based on her vote tally of 8,462, the 0.5 margin is 42 votes and outside the automatic recount rules.

It could be more than a month before we know just who will represent those districts. According to the Secretary of State’s office, counties must first submit their final results to the state by Nov. 28. The Secretary of State must request any mandatory recounts no no later than Dec. 3.

Those who want a recount that falls outside the 0.5 percent margin must request (and pay for it) by Dec. 4. Any recounts must be completed by Dec. 13 and then results become certified and official.

 

Correction: an earlier version incorrectly said recounts are triggered at 0.5 percentage margin between the candidates; it’s actually 0.5 percent of the winning candidate’s vote total.

 
David Zalubowski

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