With two votes separating the leader from the second place candidate in a Democratic primary for a Connecticut House seat from Hamden (91st District), a recount is now scheduled for Tuesday.
Party-endorsed candidate Jennifer Pope has 921 votes, opponent Laurie Sweet has 919.
“I don’t think any of us anticipated going to a recount,” says Pope.
In fact, on Election Night, Pope thought she had lost. Sweet declared victory when initial, unofficial results showed her leading by 69. But one district had miscounted, and the result reported to the Secretary of the State showed the two-vote advantage for Pope.
With the margin at less than 0.5% of all votes cast, the recount was triggered automatically.
“I know that there are two great candidates,” says Pope, “and there were hard choices to be made for voters in the 91st District… I think everyone’s always surprised when it comes down to just only a couple of votes.”
The candidates are hoping to fill the seat held by another Democrat, Rep. Mike D’Agostino, who is retiring from the House.