Senate District 26 Republican candidate concedes but recount inevitable

Face The State Staff Report

Sixteen days after the general election, Republican candidate Lauri Clapp has announced she has conceded her race for Senate District 26 to Democrat Linda Newell.

Supporters of both candidates have been anxiously awaiting the results of this contentious race, which has been too close to call since Nov. 4th. Both candidates caucused with their respective parties two weeks ago and helped select next session's leadership.

Now, all mail-in and provisional ballots have finally been counted leaving Newell with 30,405 votes and Clapp with 30,214 votes. The margin of difference is only 191 votes, but Clapp conceded and stated in a press release that she doesn't want a recount because it isn't in the best interest of the public or the taxpayer.

"I am convinced that the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, her staff, and the members of the bipartisan canvass board have done a good job in ensuring the accuracy and transparency of the election," Clapp said in the statement.

According to state law, any difference between candidates that is under 0.5 percent triggers an automatic recount. Under the current results, Newell's margin of victory is only 0.36 percent. Final results are expected next month.

The seat, located in Arapahoe County, was vacated last session by Republican Steve Ward when he launched an unsuccessful bid to represent the 6th Congressional District in Congress. Clapp, a former state Representative, was considered a shoe-in for Ward's seat, where Republicans maintain a 10 percent registration advantage over Democrats.

While some insiders say Clapp should have campaigned harder, others believe turnout for Barack Obama in this traditionally red region hurt down-ticket Republican contests, including Clapp's.