Six races to be determined

Six House Races Remain in Limbo

Excerpt:

Representative Ben Chandler has been declared the winner – again – of his close House race in Kentucky. But six other House races remained in limbo Friday, meaning some incumbent Democrats will be on hand for the lame-duck session next week unsure about whether they will return in January for the 112th Congress. And some potential Republican freshmen will arrive for orientation uncertain about whether they will ultimately serve in Congress next year.

After a re-canvass of the vote tally, Mr. Chandler, a moderate Blue Dog Democrat, narrowly beat his Republican challenger, Andy Barr, defying the anti-Democratic surge that felled many of his Democratic colleagues in the South on Nov. 2. Mr. Barr conceded Friday afternoon.

The counting in other races might not be finished for another week or so. In New York’s 25th District, officials on Friday were tallying absentee and provisional ballots in the contest between Representative Dan Maffei, a freshman Democrat, and his Republican opponent, Ann Marie Buerkle. While Mr. Maffei currently trails, votes in one of his political strongholds won’t be counted until next week, leaving his future cloudy.

In a second New York race, Representative Tim Bishop, the 1st District Democrat who was believed to be winning on Election Night before a tabulation error was discovered, is asking for a hand recount to determine the outcome in his race against Randy Altshuler.

In Illinois, Representative Melissa Bean, who won twice as a Democrat in a Republican-leaning suburban Chicago district, is trailing and is in danger of losing her seat to Joe Walsh, a Republican and Tea Party favorite. Final votes are due to be assessed there next week.

One race is still officially undecided in Texas, where Solomon Ortiz, a Democrat elected to the House in 1982, is running behind Blake Farenthold, a Republican. Mr. Ortiz has been trying to force a recount.

Two races remain officially undecided in California but both are leaning toward the Democratic candidate seeking re-election. Representative Jerry McNerney took the lead over his Republican opponent, David Harmer, in a Bay area seat while in an even closer race, Jim Costa appeared poised to pull out a narrow win over Andy Vidak, the Republican challenger, in the Fresno area.

Comment: Five days ago was 9. Earlier post