Republican Ryan Elijah Claims Florida's 7th District, Leading by 1,631 Votes and Clear of a Recount
FLORIDA — Republican Ryan Elijah declared victory on November 7 in Florida's 7th Congressional District. Secretary of State Cord Byrd had determined the district would not go to a recount, ending a nail-biter that stretched three and a half days. Elijah, who left his job as an Orlando television news anchor after defeating incumbent Rep. Cory Mills in the primary, edged Democrat Belle Dalton 49.843% to 49.338%, a margin of 1,631 votes. Under Florida law, a machine recount is triggered only when the margin is within 0.5 percent, and Elijah's lead sits just outside that threshold. The two counties will continue receiving ballots from overseas military and civilian voters, which by law must reach election offices by November 13, but the secretary of state's office says Dalton is exceedingly unlikely to close a gap of more than 1,600 votes that way. Final results await certification by the canvassing board on November 17. The 7th District spans Seminole and Volusia counties: Dalton carried Seminole 54% to 45%, while Elijah took Volusia 57% to 42%.
Source: The Daytona Beach News-Journal
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：佛罗里达州议会大厦，Tallahassee。Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0。 / Photo: The Florida State Capitol, Tallahassee. Via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
