There are still over 6,700 provisional ballots to be counted…
AP Politics….
A special election that tested President Donald Trump’s clout and cost both parties millions of dollars in battleground Ohio was too close to call late Tuesday.
Trump took credit for the Republican candidate’s performance, calling it “a great victory,” even though the contest could be headed to a mandatory recount. The Democratic candidate, meanwhile, vowed: “We’re not stopping now.”
The candidates were locked in a razor-thin contest at last count. There were at least 3,367 provisional ballots left to be reviewed. That’s enough for O’Connor to potentially pick up enough votes to force a recount.
The Associated Press does not declare winners in races subject to an automatic recount.
The Republican president’s shadow also loomed over primary contests in four other states, none bigger than Kansas, where Trump roiled the governor’s race by opposing the GOP incumbent on the eve of the election….
The Hill…
President Trump and Republican state Sen. Troy Balderson are declaring victory in a hotly contested Ohio House special election, as the GOP candidate hangs onto a razor-thin lead in a race that is still too close to call.
Trump declared victory in Ohio’s nationally watched House special election on Tuesday before the race was officially called.
“When I decided to go to Ohio for Troy Balderson, he was down in early voting 64 to 36. That was not good,” Trump tweeted late Tuesday night.
“After my speech on Saturday night, there was a big turn for the better. Now Troy wins a great victory during a very tough time of the year for voting. He will win BIG in Nov.”
Balderson narrowly leads Democrat Danny O’Connor by less than a percentage point, or 1,754 votes….
Note…
FiveThirtyEight…
Early voting is often a poor way to predict election outcomes— voters don’t always vote with the party they’re registered with.
Politico…via Twitter
This is Ohio’s District 12 at 100% reporting – a district that hasn’t gone to a Democrat in nearly four decades. No projected winner yet. https://politi.co/2nkIGIc
Daily Kos Elections
@DKElections
73% in #KSGOV and Kobach now up 40.8-40.5. But 501/956 of remaining precincts in Johnson, where Colyer leading 48-33 in early votes.
(((Harry Enten)))
Kobach inches into the lead with 77% reporting. I can smell the Kansas Democratic Party jumping for joy.
If this holds for the GOPer?
Trumpfan gets props for the call…
But folks?
GOPer’s had to spend a YUGE amount of energy
On a race they should have walked away with…
They cannot do this all over the country….
I said the race was Leans Republican months ago and did not want to revise that while I just starting my 100 day thing. I have been arguing with Trumpsits that Trump hurt Balderson in this district more than he helped. They just don’t get it.
If they don’t get it now they won’t in November and there are 68 seats held by the GOP more friendly to Democrats than this one that went to a photo finish tonight.
They won’t get it
Trump is gonna sell Ohio as about him
yes – although most of those seats have a GOP incumbent on the ticket. It is very unlikely that the Dems could pick up 60 seats in November.
Although it is now a longer shot, I still think it is possible that Democrats can win OH-12 in November. I have to believe that establishment Republicans weren’t all that happy that Balderson didn’t thank Kasich in his victory speech (after thanking Trump and many other politicians) even though Kasich ran a TV ad for him.
Balderson will still win, but my guess is that the provisional and absentee ballots will likely disproportionately go for O’Connor.