Wintry mix spreads across Minnesota

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(AP) - Minnesota election officials are
preparing for their first statewide recount since 1962 after a
close finish in a primary race for state Supreme Court justice.

      Two candidates seeking to challenge sitting Justice Lorie Gildea
were separated by less than one half of 1 percentage point. It
could require the manual review of more than 400,000 ballots, said
John Aiken, a spokesman for the Secretary of State.


      Gildea was the top vote-getter, and unofficial returns have
Hennepin County District Court Judge Deborah Hedlund ahead of
defense lawyer Jill Clark by 1,369 votes for the second slot on
November's ballot.

      Aiken said the recount will begin on Wednesday, the day after
the state canvassing board meets. It must be done in time to mail
absentee ballots in early October.

      "It is an undertaking to say the least," Aiken said.

      The last statewide recount was in the 1962 governor's race. That
year, DFLer Karl Rolvaag edged Republican Elmer Andersen by 91
votes.


      A second recount is expected in the Independence Party's primary
for House District 3A, where Bill Hamm won by three votes over
Chris Pfeifer.

Gallery

High court justice faces three primary challengers

Judges reject attempt to remove Justice Gildea from the ballot

Sept. 9 primary results

Crime, Law and Justice

Courts

Minnesota election officials are
preparing for their first statewide recount since 1962, after a close finish in a primary race for state Supreme Court justice.

Recount needed in Supreme Court primary

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