Iowa Republican Congressional Candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks Set to Win Election by 6 Votes
Republican congressional candidate Mariannette Miller-Meeks proved that every vote does count as she is set to win the election in Iowa by a mere six votes.
According to a report from The Blaze, the Republican congressional candidate was supposed to be ahead by 47 votes after initial counting, but the recount shaved her lead.
Miller-Meeks is leading her Democratic rival Rita Hart after getting ahead by six votes during the recount in Iowa's 2nd District.
The recount extends from Jasper and Marion counties in the Des Moines metro to Davenport. It also includes Iowa City and Burlington.
Six votes may be a very close lead but the results will still be sent to a state canvassing board on Monday to be certified, making Miller-Meeks the official winner, reported Iowa City Press-Citizen.
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There were more than 394,400 votes cast in the district last November 3. Certification of results in this race are expected to be finished by Monday, the legal deadline to do so.
Six Votes Made Election 'Closest in Recent History'
"As more ballots have been counted, the margin has narrowed dramatically and is now down to a mere 6 votes," Hart's campaign manager Zach Meunier said in a statement.
Meunier said the election between Hart and Miller-Meeks was the "closest Congressional race in recent history and one of the very closest in the last hundred years."
Miller-Meeks also acknowledged the very narrow margin between her and Hart.
According to FOX News, the Republican noted in a statement that the election was "extraordinarily close" but that she was still proud of the outcome.
Miller-Meeks also expressed excitement in being declared the winner.
Legal Challenges Still Unclear
Hart's campaign had not yet said if they will file for legal challenge in the election. A challenge could push forward a review by a judicial panel, said The Blaze.
According to Meunier, they will still be looking forward to what county and state board will be doing on Monday while "making sure all Iowa voices are fully and fairly heard."
Amid all this, Miller-Meeks continued to assert that she did win the race.
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She also thanked the auditors' staff and election volunteers who conducted the both the initial count and recount saying the staff "personify the words 'public servant' and 'engaged citizenship.'"
Both candidates are attempting to fill seat of Democrat Rep. Dave Loebsack, who will be retiring after seven terms.
Republicans Congratulate Miller-Meeks
There was an outpour of congratulations for Miller-Meeks on her apparent victory.
Senator Joni Ernst wrote in a tweet Saturday: "Congratulations to my friend, and the first woman to represent Iowa's 2nd District, @millermeeks! Looking forward to serving alongside you in Congress representing our Great State of Iowa."
She also received congratulations from Senator Ted Cruz who said Miller-Meeks' win was "[m]ore good news for the House."
Miller-Meeks is expected to join 20 other women from the GOP who were newly elected to the House of Representatives, something that's given the party a cause for celebration.
She had tried to unseat Loebsack in the past, though unsuccessfully, in the years 2008, 2010, and 2014.