Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, and campaign consultant Brad Heflin look at unofficial results of the canvass showing that she was behind Brad White by 8 votes early Monday afternoon. She lost the election by 13 votes.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A review Monday of absentee and provisional ballots cast in a West Virginia House of Delegates race didn’t change the outcome: Republican Delegate Brad White will hold onto his seat in Kanawha County’s 36th House District.
In last week’s election, White squeaked by Delegate Nancy Guthrie, D-Kanawha, by just four votes, capturing the third and final spot in the House district that covers eastern Kanawha County, Kanawha City and Charleston’s West Side. White received 8,128 votes to Guthrie’s 8,124 votes.
After Monday’s voting canvass, White stretched his lead to 13 votes. The official tally: White 8,189, Guthrie 8,176. Monday’s canvass lasted more than 10 hours.
“A win is a win,” White said. “I’ll take it.”
Election officials reviewed about 250 provisional ballots in the 36th District. The contested ballots included those cast by unregistered voters, people who voted in the wrong precinct by mistake and poll workers who voted in the wrong precinct. During the canvass, an additional 113 votes were counted in the tightly contested House race.
“It was about what we expected: a minuscule change,” said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper, who oversaw Monday’s canvass. “Everything went smoothly.”
Guthrie has served 10 years in the House. She could not be reached for comment Monday night. Guthrie is considered to be one of the most liberal members of the House.
In the general election last week, Delegate Larry Rowe, D-Kanawha, was the top vote-getter in the 36th District. Newcomer Andrew Robinson, also a Democrat, finished second.
Republicans hold a 63-37 majority in the House of Delegates.
After declaring winners in House, state Senate and county races, election officials next will certify the results after a 48-hour waiting period. The canvass also will certify the vote for Sunday hunting, which Kanawha County voters approved overwhelmingly last week.
Reach Eric Eyre at [email protected], 304-348-4869 or follow @ericeyre on Twitter.
