Torrington Recount Tightens 8th Senate Race, Seminara Pulls Concession
Nearly a week after conceding the loss of her state Senate seat, state Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-Avon, Tuesday withdrew her concession of the seat as one city's recount has made it a very tight race.
Seminara is currently serving her first term representing the 8th Senate District towns of Norfolk, Hartland, Canton, Simsbury, New Hartford, Avon, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Granby, Harwinton, and Torrington.
But last week, Harwinton Democrat Paul Honig, seemingly, defeated Seminara in a tight race, but one showing a clear advantage.
Ultimately, Seminara conceded to Honig, with Honig commending his Republican opponent's campaign and accepting the concession.
But in a case of "not so fast," Torrington, one of the district's larger towns, experienced significant issues with tabulators and ballots on Election Day Nov. 5, with some tabulators not working and ballots not being counted.
This prompted a recount in Torrington on Tuesday.
As a result, what was nearly a 2,000-vote lead for Honig (not including Torrington) has now become a scant 153-vote lead for the Democrat.
As of Wednesday morning, Honig unofficially is up 26,350-26,197 over Seminara, according to the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Office's election website .
This latest development has Seminara withdrawing her concession as the margin is within the parameters that call for an automatic recount..
When the recount will occur has yet to be determined, but Seminara said Tuesday she welcomes it.
"The volatility in today's Torrington results underscores the many issues we have heard about across the state as municipalities adapted to heavy early voting participation as well as heavy same-day registration voters," Seminara said in a statement.
"It has never been more important that we ensure that every vote is counted and every voice heard.
"Connecticut law calls for an automatic recount across each of the 11 towns of the district. Given how close this result is, I welcome the state-required recanvass," she continued. "The recount will provide every voter the certainty that the result is fair and accurate."
Honig said Wednesday morning he's confident the recount will show him to still be the winner.
He also said Seminara was correct in withdrawing her concession given how close the race is.
"I have no issue with Senator Seminar withdrawing her concession. It was a courtesy based on the information at the time which showed my lead above the recount threshold. Counting the votes accurately is what's important," Honig said in a statement to Patch.
Honig also discussed the situation on his campaign Facebook page Wednesday.
" I respect the recount process as a vital part of our democratic system. Every voice matters, and every vote deserves to be counted accurately. I'm confident in the outcome and look forward to moving forward, but I support this process to ensure transparency and trust in our electoral system," he said via Facebook. "Thank you to our hardworking election officials who will be putting in extra time to certify the results."
From Nov. 8: 'Torrington Recount May Tighten 8th Senate's Election Outcome'
From Nov. 7: 'Honig Celebrates 8th Senate Win, First For A Dem Since 1970s'
