Possible Recount in Wisconsin Primary for Anti-Gay Republican, Results in Connecticut and Minnesota
After victory was announced for a controversial Republican senate candidate in Wisconsin's primary, one county's slow uploading of results makes a recount likely on Wednesday.
The Associated Press called the race for State Sen. Glenn Grothman (R) on Tuesday night, but the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports a recount in Sheboygan County has now narrowed his lead against Joe Leibham to just 215 votes, at 23,241 to 23,026, after the county experienced computer problems in uploading its results.
"Out of respect to the voters of the 6th Congressional District, I believe we need to allow the election officials to finish counting and double checking all of the votes cast in Tuesday's election," the Leibham campaign told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
A losing candidate can call a recount if the margin is less than 2.0 percent. A margin of 215 votes is 0.01 percent.
Wisconsin Sen. Glenn Grothman has courted controversy. At a 2010 Tea Party rally, he said he was opposed to equal pay legislation because "money is more important for men." And equally damaging, he has repeatedly called homosexuality a sin.
The Wisconsin general election will determine who replaces retiring Rep. Tom Petri (R-Wis.). Grothman would face Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris (D), who was unopposed in his primary.
The states of Connecticut and Minnesota also held primary elections Tuesday night.
In Connecticut, businessman Tom Foley won the Republican primary for governor. He will face incumbent Democrat Dannel P. Malloy who is a seeking a second term.
This is the state that saw the Newtown school shootings in 2012, where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The state passed a wide-ranging gun control law.
In Minnesota, another businessman, Mike McFadden, won selection for the Republican Senate nomination and will run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Franken.
Primary elections help to narrow the field for candidates before the midterm election vote in November. Some states have closed primaries, which means only registered voters for Democratic and Republican party candidates can vote. Connecticut is a closed state. Wisconsin and Minnesota are open, which means unaffiliated voters can vote in an election primary, but in Wisconsin voters may indicate a party preference.
This year's midterm elections are unlikely to result in Democrats winning back the U.S. House, but Senate seats will be vied for as the Senate approves cabinet appointments and nominations for the Supreme Court. Governors' races are worth watching in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and possibly New York because of the controversy swirling around Governor Cuomo and his Moreland Commission.