The Indiana Recount Commission Friday certified the results of the 8 th Congressional District Democratic primary, making former state lawmaker Ron Drake the official winner.
The May primary showed Ron Drake with a 68-vote lead over his opponent, another former state lawmaker, David Orentlicher. Andrew Horning ran as the Libertarian candidate. Orentlicher asked for a recount of the more than 58 thousand ballots cast. And after a 19-county recount, Orentlicher last week conceded the race. Recount director Phil Sicuso helped make that official Friday.
"The State Board of Accounts' tally resulted in a total of 29,270 votes for Ron Drake and 29, 206 votes for David Orentlicher," says Sicuso.
The final margin of victory was 64 votes.
Drake called the recount process "excruciating" and one that cuts his campaign window down to less than 90 days against Republican incumbent Larry Bucshon:
"Half of the campaign time is gone. I don't want to acknowledge that it's uphill because I think this year, it may be different," says Drake.
Drake says he hopes Orentlicher's concession will help Democrats unite in the 8 th District.