The US Senate race in Florida between the state’s Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott could be headed to a recount.
The incredibly close race which has Scott in the lead over the incumbent Nelson, with fewer than 35,000 votes separating the two, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
In Florida, the Senate race between incumbent Bill Nelson (D) and Rick Scott (R) is a toss-up. #ElectionNight #Midterms2018 https://t.co/moYOfg9CCw pic.twitter.com/QZ1Z8K0zcV
— CBS News (@CBSNews) November 7, 2018
With all of Florida’s precincts reporting by Wednesday morning and more than 8.1 million ballots cast, the difference of 0.42 percent could trigger an automatic recount as state law requires it if the difference in a race is less than 0.5 percent.
Nelson, a three-term incumbent as Florida’s senator, reportedly conceded just after midnight Tuesday, according to Roll Call. Politico reported that “Nelson’s campaign issued a statement at 1 a.m. saying it was ‘not the result Senator Nelson and his campaign had worked so hard for,’ but that the statement was ‘not a concession.’
“This is obviously not the result Senator Nelson’s campaign has worked hard for,” Nelson’s campaign manager, Pete Mitchell, said Tuesday night, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “The senator will be making a full statement tomorrow to thank all those who rallied for his cause.”
Nelson apparently had not called Scott to concede and confusing reports made for conflicting reactions, including from the state’s Republican Sen. Marco Rubio.
Bill Nelson has conceded to our new Senator & my new colleague @ScottforFlorida. What exactly is CNN & other outlets waiting for to call the race? We don’t need CNN to swear him in to the Senate,but its kind of annoying anyways.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 7, 2018
Scott also appeared to make a victory speech Tuesday before the race had been called.
Our victory tonight is due to the hard work of so many, more than I could ever name. But I do want to thank my best friend Ann. She’s been an amazing First Lady–and when I had to get off the trail to respond To Michael, she jumped in for me. We’re a great team–I love you, Ann!
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) November 7, 2018
Now we must do what we’ve always done-come together for the good of our state and country. After Hurricane Michael, people came from all over the country to help us. No one cared about your political party. People came together. WE CAN DO THAT IN WASHINGTON.
Now #LetsGetToWork
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) November 7, 2018
On Wednesday morning, Nelson referred to Scott’s lead as “razor-thin” and announced, “We are proceeding to a recount.”
NEW: minutes after getting word that FL Gov Rick Scott (R) never got a call from Sen Bill Nelson (D) conceding, we get this from Nelson:
“We are proceeding to a recount”
— Peter Doocy (@pdoocy) November 7, 2018
Scott’s campaign seemed to characterize Nelson’s actions as an attempt to cling to power.
“This race is over,” Scott spokesman Chris Hartline said in a statement Wednesday. “It’s a sad way for Bill Nelson to end his career. He is desperately trying to hold on to something that no longer exists.”
An official recount notice would come from Scott-appointed Secretary of State Ken Detzner and would mean Florida’s 67 counties would have to recheck their tallies.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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