Led by 5,500 votes, Ty Masterson calls for ‘another look’ at results in Kansas governor’s race – Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — With Democrat Cindy Holscher holding a roughly 5,500-vote lead in the Kansas gubernatorial race, Republican Ty Masterson said Wednesday the results warrant “another look.”

Holscher declared victory, even though the race was too close to call, as election offices across the state prepared for a hand count of ballots in 10 percent of precincts in each county. An unknown number of mail-in ballots and provisional ballots arriving late could also affect the total.

As it stands, Holscher leads Masterson 546,648 votes to 541,070.

“The first count doesn’t appear to be going our way, but the margin is narrow enough that Kansas law calls for another review, and we will let that process complete,” Masterson said. “Every Kansan deserves to know the outcome is good.”

Holscher released a statement saying she had won her case.

“Kansans have made their voices heard, and I am deeply honored by the trust Kansans have placed in me to serve as your next governor,” Holscher said. “Whether I won your vote or not, I will work for you.”

State law triggers a close audit of 10 percent of precincts per county when the margin between candidates is less than 1 percent. In addition to the governor’s race, the margins for attorney general, secretary of state and the three House districts require close scrutiny.

Bryan Caskey, the state’s elections director, said election officials must manually count ballots from 10% of precincts and compare the results to machine-counted totals. He said election offices will work starting tomorrow and through the weekend to complete the audit before Monday, when county commissions will begin certifying the results.

Previous audits have upheld the Kansas election results. Sometimes, Caskey said, the number of hands will be slightly different because of something like a machine not counting an oval that wasn’t filled in correctly.

Masterson would also have until 5 p.m. on Nov. 17, the day after county commissions must finish certifying the results, to request a full recount.

Under Kansas law, the state will cover the cost of a standard recount, where ballots are retransmitted by machines, if the race is within half a percentage point. Masterson would have to pay the cost of a manual recount, or if the margin is greater than 0.5% and the result does not change.

It was unclear whether Masterson’s statement about taking “another look” referred to the close audit of the race or his right to request a recount.

“He’s referring to whoever is in the right,” said Garrett Henson, his campaign spokesman.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Holscher’s margin was 0.51%. The margin could change, however. Ballots posted on Tuesday and arriving on Friday will be counted. And the departmental commissions will have to consider provisional ballots.

“I think it’s premature to request a recount until the county board of investigators has begun to certify the results at the county level,” Caskey said. “There will be an increase in the number of votes included in the count because every county has provisional ballots, and so I think for a candidate to request a recount, they should look at the best possible information they have, the conclusion of post-election audits, and the review of provisional ballots.”

Caskey said the secretary of state’s office was trying to find out how many provisional ballots were cast.

At his watch party Tuesday night in Wichita, Masterson told the crowd, “What I’m afraid of is lawyers getting involved in this case.” » Several people in the crowd offered to help.

Masterson, of Andover, is president of the Kansas Senate. Holscher, of Overland Park, also serves in the Senate.

“Regardless of the outcome, the fight for lower property taxes, safer communities and better schools does not stop tonight,” Masterson said in his Wednesday statement. “I will continue to work for these things no matter what, and I will work with anyone who wants to achieve them.”

In declaring victory, Holscher thanked Masterson for his service to the state and praised him for running a hard-fought campaign.

“Throughout this campaign, I’ve heard from people who want their leaders to put politics aside and work together to achieve the things that matter most: strong public schools, lower costs for our families and farmers, and an economy where every Kansan can get ahead,” Holscher said.