Hoffman Unconcedes In NY-23 Race
Nov 16, 2009 8 Comments ›› Erik Wong
Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman has “unconceded” in New York’s special House election after reports that the vote margin between him and Rep. Bill Owens (D) has narrowed.
Hoffman conceded the race on Election Night after learning he trailed Owens by 5,335 votes. But the Syracuse Post-Standard reported last week that the margin had shrunk to 3,026 votes after recanvassing.
Hoffman appeared on conservative commenatator Glenn Beck’s radio show this afternoon. Beck asked the him if he would “unconcede.”
“Yes, if I knew this information at the election night, I would not have conceded,” Hoffman said. Beck asked him again if he was “uncondeding” and Hoffman replied “If that’s possible, yes.”
Officials in the upstate New York district are still counting over 10,000 absentee ballots, which also had Republican nominee Dede Scozzafava’s name on them. Scozzafava dropped out of the race three days before election day citing poor fundraising and polling returns. She then backed Owens.
Owens was sworn into Congress on Nov. 6, just before Democrats voted on the healthcare reform bill on Saturday. Should Hoffman come away with more votes, a highly unlikely possibility, Owens would have to be removed from office, according to the House Clerk.
Hoffman would have to take over 65 percent of the absentee ballots in order to eclipse Owens. In the interview, Hoffman admitted his victory would be a “long shot.”
