Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love conceded defeat in the race for Utah’s 4th district House seat in what many described at the time as a “squeaker” of a race, with initial reports estimating she lost the election by fewer than 3,000 votes out of a quarter-million. A final tally, though, which takes into account around 72,000 absentee and provisional ballots which have been processed since Election Day, shows that Love lost by only 768 votes.
Matheson wins in closest victory of his career, by 768 votes. Crazy close. Every vote counts. Just ask Mia Love. http://t.co/WTpmXhvq
— Heidi Hatch (@tvheidihatch) November 21, 2012
Rep. Allen West only this morning conceded defeat in Florida after several recounts failed to make up the difference that would trigger a mandatory recount. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that a 488-vote difference would have allowed Love to request a recount.
News of the closeness of the race makes the loss even tougher for supporters, some of whom blame a siphoning of votes by Libertarian candidate Jim Vein.
Mia Love loses by 768 votes, Libertarian candidate rec'd 5700 http://t.co/gj2xqdzh #utpol #tcot #teaparty
— Legal Insurrection (@LegInsurrection) November 20, 2012
https://twitter.com/iResistAll/status/271063359523278848
Libertarian candidate in UT-04 hands the district to the Democrats. Mia Love lost by 768 votes, libertarian received 5700 votes.
— Crosspatch (@VictorB123) November 21, 2012
Not so fast, say others.
https://twitter.com/JeremyBRoberts/status/271034845663223809
https://twitter.com/JeremyBRoberts/statuses/271035710440611840
We’re hoping to see more of Mia Love outside of Utah, and we’re not alone.
https://twitter.com/teapartiedUSA/status/271030461906698241
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