Washington state Sen. Don Benton wins recount
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — State Sen. Don Benton has won his re-election bid by just 74 votes in a race that affects the balance of power in the Washington Legislature.
A hand recount by the Clark County Elections Department shows the Vancouver Republican defeated Democratic challenger Tim Probst in the 17th District.
The Columbian reports another hand recount will be conducted Thursday in the close state House race in the 17th District between Democrat Monica Stonier and Republican Julie Olson. Stonier had a 139-vote lead after last month's election. Probst vacated that seat to challenge Benton.
Benton's victory leaves Democrats with a 26-23 Senate majority, but two Democrats have indicated they'll work with the GOP. The House is solidly Democratic.
I know Don (I used to live down the street from him), and he's genuine in his beliefs and really tries to walk his talk. I don't agree with a lot of his positions, but I respect his integrity.
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Same is true of Tim Probst.
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Southwest Washington actually lucked out with two genuine candidates.
Well, now this makes me wonder if the Mayan calendar predicting the end of the world isn't true after all...
Wow, a re-count in favor of a republican, this is new.
It's hard to believe a recount went in favor of a Republican. Â Usually, Washington will have one recall after another until the democrat is ahead, then call it good. Â They even did that in the governor's race a couple of elections back.
 @boomer Actually, the recalls in 2004 were either required by law or paid for by one side or the other. My personal favorite recollection was the comment by Dino "The Whiner From Wenatchee" Rossi saying "Gregoire should just accept the results" when he was ahead by 53 votes, but he filed a lawsuit when he lost the final recount (monitored heavily by republican lawyers) claiming, according to his filing in the case, that "Hundreds of illegal aliens voted" and then spending $500,000 to document the claim and being unable to find a single one. I also liked his response when asked if he shouldn't just accept the results as he had suggested, and his replying with a two minute profanity burst.