Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Thanks to only three votes, one of Utah's most outspoken conservatives may keep his place in the House, despite lagging behind on election night.
But thanks to the race's remarkably razor thin margin — .01 percent — state law permits a recount of the votes, meaning despite Salt Lake County's official canvass Tuesday, the House District 32 race still hangs in the balance.
Rep. Lavar Christensen, R-Draper, was behind his Democratic challenger, Suzanne Harrison, by 195 votes on election night. But as more votes were tallied over the past two weeks, Christensen closed the gap, eventually flipping the race Friday to take the lead — by only six votes.
But Tuesday, Salt Lake County's canvass finalized its election results with about 400 more ballots tallied, clipping Christensen's lead to just three votes.
Because the race was decided by less than 0.25 percent, Harrison can ask for a recount under state law.
Christensen or Harrison did not immediately return requests for comment Tuesday.
Harrison had not issued a statement conceding the race.
