Reno, NV (AP) - A candidate for Nevada governor who lost this month’s Republican primary election by just over 11 percentage points, or nearly 26,000 votes, will pay for a statewide recount after he objected to the outcome and made numerous unproven claims about the election process.
Nevada’s Secretary of State told county clerks Wednesday to begin conducting a recount this week, at a cost of $190,960 to Reno attorney Joey Gilbert.
Gilbert had 26.7% of the vote on June 14, trailing Las Vegas Metro Police Sheriff Joe Lombardo, who won 38.4% in a crowded primary field for the Republican governor nomination on June 14. Gilbert has not conceded and will pay the full amount for the recount.
Gilber has repeatedly challenged the primary election results, alleging workers did not properly verify signatures or monitor ballots, among many other claims. County clerks and officials across the state have said that the election was conducted fairly.
All 17 counties have five days to complete the recount.
In a Facebook video posted to his page two days after the election, Gilbert urged his supporters to submit affidavits that they voted for him. He said it was not about his loss but election integrity overall, an issue that was central to his campaign.
"I just think right now, based on what I’ve seen, this is a mess", Gilbert said in the video. "These elections, the way they’ve been run, it’s like Swiss cheese. There’s too many holes."
For Republicans, Gilbert’s apparent rejection of the results reflect growing challenges two years after many in the party embraced disproven claims of election fraud. Party leaders wants to encourage voting while also appealing to the tens of thousands who backed Gilbert and distrust elections.
The day after the election, state GOP chair Michael McDonald - who rejected the results of the 2020 election - rebuked Gilbert and said it was time to unite behind Lombardo.
"The election is over. It’s been called. Joe Lombardo has won. We need to come together and unite", he said, calling Gilbert’s reaction "emotional."
In the two weeks since, Gilbert has talked about filing a lawsuit. In a Facebook Live video posted Tuesday, he offered a reward to anyone who could provide "smoking gun" evidence to prove corruption.
Lombardo who is endorsed by Trump, will face Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak in what is projected to be a toss-up race.