Cascade County Elections officials conducted a recount for House District 22 in Great Falls.
Recount results confirm the victory of incumbent Republican State Representative Lola Sheldon-Galloway, who won by just 14 votes over Democrat Laura Devers.
The vote margin was not close enough to trigger an automatic recount, but one was requested by the Devers campaign.
The Montana Democratic Party posted a $2,115 bond to pay for the recount.
The recount was done by hand at the Courthouse Annex with several observers in attendance.
Republicans currently hold a 58-42 majority in the Montana House for the 2019 Legislature, which convenes on January 7.
(November 9, 2018) The 2018 election is over – but not for all of the candidates.
The House District 22 race between Republican Lola Sheldon-Galloway and Democrat Laura Dever has not yet been decided.
The current numbers have Sheldon-Galloway in the lead with 1,869 votes, and Dever only five votes behind her at 1,864.
Cascade County Clerk & Recorder Rina Moore says they still have to count 13 provisional ballots by Tuesday.
“I do not think it will take us out of the recount. The magic number is 18. There is 13 provisional and I am at five so that adds up to 18, so I have been told it will go to a recount. When you think about it, the nerves kick in,” Sheldon-Galloway said.
Montana Democratic Party Roy Loewenstein says the House District 22 race is far from being over.
The provisional ballots will be counted on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
A candidate can request an automatic recount if they are behind by less than .25 percent. If the margin is between .25 percent and .5 percent, a trailing candidate can request a recount but would be required to pay for it, according to the state.
