Here & Now

Bomhack Wins After Recount Flips Election Results

Zac Schultz:

We move from funding campaigns to counting the vote. A recount has flipped the results of the Democratic primary in the 17th senate district. After the August 12th primary, Ernie Wittwer appeared to have defeated Pat Bomhack by seven votes. Bomhack requested a recount and the Government Accountability Board says Bomhack has now won by 33 votes. But not without controversy. On Monday Green County officials reported that 110 ballots were missing from the city of Monroe. A city clerk says the ballots may have been mistakenly discarded with un-used ballots on election night. The GAB advised the Green County Board of Canvas to go ahead with the recount using the ballots that were available. With the loss of those ballots, Wittwer lost 40 votes and Bomhack lost 12 votes. The GAB says Wittwer will now have five days to decide if he wants to challenge the results of the recount in court. The winner will face Republican Howard Marklein in the fall.