Mark Herring wins Va. attorney general race, recount to be announced

STAFF WRITER

Mark Herring won the Virginia’s attorney general race, according to the State Board of Elections. Mark D. Obenshain, the Republican candidate, lost the election by 165 votes, according to the Washington Post.

The recent win gives Democrats control of the statewide offices, including Gov.-elect Terry McAuliffe and Lt. Gov.-elect Ralph S. Northam.

Obenshain, a state Senator from Harrisonburg, did not request a recount immediately but did later in the day the results were declared. The recount is set to start on Dec. 17 and 18 and is expected to be the state’s most “extensive recount ever in the closest statewide race in modern political history,” according to ABC7 news channel.

Because Virginia does not have an automatic recount system, a candidate may ask for a recount if the victor’s margin is less than one-half of one percent. The cost of the recount will be placed on the voters because the margin is so close. Currently, Herring has a 0.007 percent lead over Obenshain, 1,103,777 compared to 1,103,612.

The recount will include electronic reading machines, optical scanner and touch-screen ballots.

According to ABC7, “They will be looked at closely in a recount to determine whether that was intentional or an error in casting a vote. Absentee and provisional ballots will be counted by hand.”