Even though Democrat Dianne Byrum gained votes in Ingham County’s four-day recount of the 8th Congressional District election, the state senator’s deficit still leaves questions of whether she will be able to overturn state-certified results.
The recount gave Byrum, of Onondaga, a net gain of 33 votes, lessening the margin between her and GOP opponent state Sen. Mike Rogers, of Brighton, to 127.
The Ingham County Board of Canvassers certified the recount Thursday afternoon.
“Everything is resolved,” Liz Boyd, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Candice Miller said Thursday. “There are no added challenges, and the board will certify the results today.”
Although Ingham County’s votes have been resolved, Genesee, Washtenaw, Shiawassee, Livingston and Oakland counties still need to conduct recounts, giving Byrum more chances to gain votes. Genesee was expected to begin its count today.
That’s why some people who started watching the race before the candidates began campaigning think there’s still something for Byrum to win.
“I said in the beginning I think this is going to be very hard for her to overcome,” said Bill Ballenger, editor and publisher of the Lansing-based newsletter Inside Michigan Politics. “But based on this progress she’s made so far, she shouldn’t throw in the towel yet. She should go all the way.”
Byrum could potentially gain votes in Genesee and Washtenaw counties, which both lean Democratic.
But it could be tougher in Oakland and Livingston, Rogers’ home county, where the Republican presence is higher.
The Byrum campaign, though, is far from conceding, said Adam Wright, the senator’s press secretary.
“We’re encouraged by our progress,” he said. “We’re headed to Genesee Friday and Washtenaw Monday where we expect more votes to turn our way.
“These were (Ingham County) punch card ballots which are quite accurate. The optical scan ballots, which aren’t quite as accurate, were used in some of the other counties.
“That’s the portion of the district we expect to move the most.”
Some of Byrum’s opponents don’t think there are enough days left to make a significant change.
“They’re halfway done and not halfway to overturning the result,” said Sylvia Warner, Rogers’ press secretary. “There really hasn’t been a time we felt a real threat from the recount.”
Emily Robinson can be reached at robin314@msu.edu.
