Congress Racing in California It may look very different than others, as two candidates are poised to tie for second place in a state where usually only the top two finishers advance to the general election.
Democrats Evan Lowe and Joe Simitian each received 16.6% of the vote with 30,249 votes. unofficial state results On the California Secretary of State’s website for the 16th Congressional District.
Unless a voter requests a recount, both of their names will be on the ballot, along with fellow Democrat and first-place finisher Sam Liccardo.
NBC News predicted that Liccardo would advance in the general election with 21.1% of the vote.
San Mateo and Santa Clara Both states announced their official results on Thursday, starting the clock on a five-day period in which voters can apply for a recount.
The candidates are vying to fill the seat vacated by Democratic Representative Anna Eshu, who announced in November that she would not seek re-election after serving in Congress. 1993.
The two candidates with the most votes in the California primaries advance to the general election. Regardless of the of his political party. However, a tie in the first two places means that those candidates will advance.
“It’s something that’s very unlikely to ever happen, but they foresaw it in the law and made it a rule that they go to a runoff together,” said Paul Mitchell, vice president of voter data vendor Political Data Inc.
Any voter may request a recount, but must pay the associated costs. Mitchell estimates a recount could cost $325,000.
Low or Simitian may also request a recount.
“I think you only want to ask for a recount if you’re absolutely sure you’re going to win,” said Justin Levitt, a law professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
“At this point you need a lot of confidence to make sure you get a win rather than a loss,” he said.
Lowe is a California assemblyman and Simitian is a Santa Clara County supervisor.
“This historically close race shows that every vote really counts,” Lowe said. “I couldn’t have come this far without each and every one of you and I hope to have your support again in November.”
“This is what a functioning democracy looks like,” Simitian said in a statement.
“Sometimes democracy needs time to work. “It was one of those times. Call it a cliffhanger, a rollercoaster, a wild ride – but it was totally worth the wait!”
Neither campaign directly responded to questions about whether they would seek a recount.
Liccardo can also call for a recount if he chooses not to participate in a three-way contest.
But, Mitchell said, it would be “weird” for him to do so.
Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.