Indiana Recount Commission preps as Senate Dist. 23 nears final tally
Paula Copenhaver silent on recount plans, but state Sen. Spencer Deery says he’s ‘ready’ if GOP challenger goes that way in a tight primary now leaning his direction. More reaction here.
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INDIANA RECOUNT COMMISSION PREPS AS SENATE DIST. 23 NEARS FINAL TALLY
With suspense lifted somewhat on the final results in Indiana Senate District 23 – state Sen. Spencer Deery pulled ahead of Republican challenger Paula Copenhaver by three votes Wednesday, with just two provisional ballots left to count Friday in Tippecanoe County – here are a few notes.
WHERE THINGS STAND: First up, in case you missed it earlier today, the race tipped on the count of a single provisional ballot verified and counted in Parke County, in favor of Deery, a first-term Republican from West Lafayette. Copenhaver hasn’t respond for comment, but all indications point to a recount in Senate District 23 once official results are certified Friday afternoon in the last of six counties, spreading from West Lafayette to the covered bridges of Parke County.
Here’s the background from Wednesday morning:
DEERY’S TAKE: ‘TIME TO BEGIN HEALING:’ Wednesday morning, Deery was thanking voters and asking the district to look forward.
“Campaigns are hard, and primaries can be especially difficult. But now is the time to begin healing and move forward together. And we must,” Deery said.
“Too many Hoosier families are hurting. They feel it at the gas pump, in their property taxes, medical bills, the cost of childcare, and in the struggles facing rural towns and schools across our district,” Deery said. “Whether you have supported me for years, just joined this campaign, or never came around at all, the stakes are simply too high to continue to fight over yesterday’s battles. As I have for the last four years, I promise to do everything I can to represent every community in this district with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the many perspectives that make our district so unique.”
As for a potential recount filing by Copenhaver?
“We will be ready if they choose to go that route,” Deery said.
DIEGO MORALES, THE RECOUNTS AND A CHALLENGE: Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales will hold what his office called an organizational meeting of the Indiana Recount Commission on Friday, in anticipation of recount petitions coming once election results are certified.
The meeting will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Indiana Government Center South Conference Center in Indianapolis. A livestream will be available the Secretary of State’s Office website: https://www.in.gov/sos/
After Friday’s election certification, candidates have until May 19 to file for a recount or to contest the election, according to the Indiana Election Division. Party chairs in Indiana Senate District 23 have until noon May 22 to do the same. State election law says candidates asking for a recount needs to specify which precincts they want to challenge and would be responsible for paying for it.
On Wednesday, state Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, called on Morales “to step aside from any recount involving Sen. Deery,” saying the secretary of state “has persistently undermined our confidence in elections and the integrity of his office.”
