Allen West calls for a fuller recount
(CNN) – Rep. Allen West's campaign said it filed a complaint Tuesday in St. Lucie County, calling for the court to order a recount of all early ballots in his race for re-election.
While the Democratic candidate, Patrick Murphy, declared victory last week in the close contest for Florida's 18th Congressional District, West has yet to concede, citing the razor thin margin between the two.
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West, a first term Republican congressman and retired Army lieutenant colonel, and Patrick were locked in one of the country's most expensive races for a U.S. House seat, according to a ranking prepared by the Center for Responsive Politics. West raised $17 million through mid-October and Murphy brought in $3.7 million, according for Federal Election Commission records.
On Saturday, Murphy had a roughly 2,400-vote lead over West. The county's canvassing board, however, issued a partial recount Sunday. Since then, Murphy's lead has narrowed, and as of Tuesday evening, he held an advantage of 1,907 votes over West.
Still, the .58% margin falls outside of the .5% needed for an automatic recount.
The votes are considered unofficial until November 20, when election officials have said the results will be certified. But West's campaign argues the certification date should be postponed until all the early ballots are counted.
In a statement Tuesday, the campaign said only three days worth of early voting ballots were considered in the partial recount on Sunday-not the full early voting period of eight days.
Also in his request for a recount, West pointed to a substantial difference in the total number of votes reported Saturday compared to Tuesday–in fact, 799 fewer votes were listed on Tuesday than a few days prior.
Saying "nearly 1,000 votes disappeared from the count" without "any explanation," West's campaign said if the remaining early votes were to be recounted, "additional errors would be uncovered" and the final tally could be revised.
The Secretary of State's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening about West's complaint.
- CNN's Ashley Killough, Gregory Wallace, Kevin Bohn, and Robert Yoon contributed to this report.
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Our little dictator he must have wished he was running in some third world country to change the outcome of election. Sorry, buddy this is USA.
So...he didn't get 99% of the black vote? Hahaaa, I guess that argument is a dumb one.
Lets send this gop stooge back to afganistan where he can represent his kind of people ,the taliban ,he sure doesn't represent anybody in my state of Florida !!!!
I wouldn't put it past Allen West and his buddies to "find" some extra votes that go his way while the re-count
is going on. I don't trust those Republicans at all, after they tried every thing they could think of, to trick and
steal the election nation wide! And who can blame me?
Republicans don't need Allen West. They have replaced him with Artur Davis. Besides, Republicans already have angry white males, so they don't need an angry black male.
Allen West is acting like a jilted lover not willing to accept the relationship is over. Give it up West, they don't want you anymore and stop wasting Florida tax payers dollars.
C'mon, Allen. There's plenty of shopping mall security guard positions in Palm Beach County. Check Craigslist.
Oh, please, Mr. West, concede!!!!
Why isn't the federal government running elections, as they do in the civilized part of the world?
Allen West is a very disturbed person.
You Lost!!! Move On- see if Fox will hire U
"Still, the .58% margin falls outside of the .5% needed for an automatic recount."
You lost Mr. West, dealt with it. Undoubably, there will be plenty of work opportunities in far right think tanks or as a lobbyist in Washington.
Why is it black republicans act like this? In order to join the "elite club" they must put down their own people, deny they're black and "cling" to their slave masters demands. West, Cain, Rice and Steele all put on embarassing performances in the name of conservatism. I have no problem with their political beliefs and generally wish them well, but I don't like how far they're willing to go to just to "convince" the right they belong. What a disgrace they are and I hope they come to their senses soon and develop self-respect.
Correction: I don't like how far they're wiling to go to "convince" the right they belong.
Go home Mr. West, start fishing and find different career. 🙂
West sit down you did not win period
Wow, West is really making a fool of himself. Give it up, sore loser!
Waaaah! What a cry baby!
The tea party needs him – so he can attack the president full on with dog whistles without being called racist.
Waaah! What a cry baby!
fuller? why, he is already full of it
I am not a fan of Allen West, but the complete incompetence shown by the Florida Board of Elections throws a pallor on the validity of this election. If the people voted for him, he should have the job, as much as I'd hate to see it. I'll be very interested to see what happens to West, who may have become a victim of "friendly fire" by his own Governor's voter suppression efforts.
LOL. Recount this....YOU'RE FIRED!!!! Go home.
Hey wingnut! You lost because you did not represent Floridians, you sold your soul to the Kochs and the bagger party.
Is this Nut still there ? Get him off the stage and give him the Clint E. empty chair..
It is time for Former Rep. Allen West to accept the fact that Florida's 18th Congressional District has ousted him, and that he should spend the remainder of his term packing his bags and clearing out of his office intead of spending taxpayers' money on frivolous lawsuits and unnecessary recounts.
Give it a rest, West! YOU LOST!!!!!