Republican Martha McSally has officially upset Democratic Congressman Ron Barber.
The results of the recount were released this morning, and McSally won the district by 167 votes. The recount actually extended the lead for McSally, whose 161-vote lead over Barber was close enough to trigger the recount.
See also: -Recount to Take Place Without 133 Contested Votes
"There's no getting around that this was an incredibly close and hard-fought race," McSally says in a statement. "After what's been a long campaign season, it's time to come together and heal our community. That's why my focus will be on what unites us, not what divides us, such as providing better economic opportunity for our families and ensuring our country and community are kept safe."
McSally already has attended orientation for new members of Congress, and the retired Air Force colonel has been appointed to the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees.
Barber released a statement saying, in part:
"Today I congratulated Martha McSally on her victory, and wished her well in serving Southern Arizonans. This result is not the one we hoped for, but we take solace in having spoken out loud and clear for the principle that every legal vote should be counted. As in every election system, there are imperfections in ours, and we must work to correct them. When an election is as close as this one has been, we do our best to arrive at the correct result, and then accept it with respect for the voters."In the days leading up to the recount, Barber's campaign filed a lawsuit in an effort to contest the fact that 133 votes that weren't counted, but they weren't successful. Based on the recount results, those votes wouldn't have changed the outcome anyway.
Barber was elected to Congress by a special election in summer 2012, to replace Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords after she was shot. A few months later, Barber defeated McSally to win his first, and only, full term in Congress.
Barber also served on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees.
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