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Tags: rick scott | florida | recusal | election | recount | governor | senate

Scott Recuses Himself From Certifying His Own Election

republican florida governor rick scott, wearing a pin the shape of his home state, stands in the senate hall
Florida GOP Gov. Rick Scott (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

By    |   Wednesday, 14 November 2018 02:26 PM EST

Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday he will recuse himself from certifying the results of his razor-thin Senate race.

"I recused myself from certifying results on the Elections Canvassing Commission in 2014, and I will do so again this year," he tweeted.

Scott had been silent about his participation in the little-known board that signs off on the results of each federal, state, and multi-county election, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

The commission consists of Scott and two members of the Cabinet that he chooses.

Scott's lawyer also told U.S. District Judge Mark Walker on Wednesday the governor plans to recuse himself from the commission — as he did in 2014, when he was running for re-election and also faced the chance of certifying the results of his own election, the news outlet reported.

Lawyers for the League of Women Voters of Florida are pressing for a "neutral third party" to fill in for Scott, who is trying to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. The candidates have been locked in a contentious recount effort since Election Day.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Scott led Nelson 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent, with a 12,562 vote margin, NBC News reported.

The only other member of the Cabinet who could replace Scott — Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — is a Scott appointee who is also on the ballot this year, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

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Newsfront
Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott will recuse himself from certifying the results of his razor-thin Senate race against incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., Scott tweeted Wednesday.
rick scott, florida, recusal, election, recount, governor, senate
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2018-26-14
Wednesday, 14 November 2018 02:26 PM
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