PALM BEACH, Fla. — Neither Palm Beach nor Broward counties had reported the results of machine and manual recounts undertaken in the race for Florida's 20th congressional district seat by press time Friday.
Home health care business owner Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness came into Friday morning separated by three votes out of more than 49,000 ballots cast in Tuesday's Democratic Party primary.
On Jan. 11, the winner of the primary will face newcomer Jason Mariner, who easily defeated his Republican opponent Tuesday to earn his spot on the ballot.
District 20, which includes portions of Palm Beach and Broward counties, had been represented by Democrat Alcee Hastings from 1993 until his death in April after a battle with prostate cancer.
Because the gap between Cherfilus-McCormick and Holness was so tiny – .01% – that state law required a machine recount. If, after that machine recount, the gap was smaller than .25% – which election officials in both counties indicated was likely – a manual recount would be undertaken.
The primary winner might not be known until the race is certified on Nov. 14 because both counties still need to receive and count military and overseas ballots.
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