The race in New York’s 23rd Congressional District was one of the most watched and hotly contested elections Nov. 3 because of the conservative revolt against the Republican Party’s handpicked liberal candidate Dede Scozzafava in favor of Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman.
But Hoffman’s decision to withdraw his election night concession to Rep. Bill Owens, who was seated in Congress on Nov. 6, has thrown a twist into the race.
Hoffman made his announcement Monday while he was a guest on Glenn Beck’s radio show after the talk show host asked him whether he would retract the concession following news reports showing the vote gap between him and Owens had shrunk significantly.
The margin had been reduced from 5,335 votes on election night to 3,026 votes after recanvassing, according to the Syracuse Post Standard.
“If I knew this information on election night, I would not have conceded,” Hoffman told Beck.
Officials still are counting 10,000 absentee ballots that still have Scozzafava’s name on them. She dropped out of the race three days before the election citing poor fundraising and support and threw her support to Owens.
Hoffman would need more than 65 percent of the absentee ballots to take the lead over Owens, which he concedes would be a “long shot.” In the event Hoffman pulls off a come from behind victory, Owens would be removed according to comments the House clerk gave The Hill.
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