Chris Dorworth Concedes Upon Completion of Recount

Submitted by Anonymous on November 12, 2012 - 2:28pm

With the manual review of under and over votes completed, state Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, who was once in line to be House speaker, has conceded

Just left a message congratulating newly elected Rep.Mike Clelland, Dorworth Tweeted. May God bless Florida and her House of Representatives.

Clelland, an attorney and former firefighter, told the Orlando Sentinel that "Right now, I just want to get up there [to Tally], build some trust with Republicans, find some common ground and get to work."

Clelland held a 123-vote lead out of the nearly 74,000 votes cast in the House District 29 contest before a machine recount began on Sunday.

Following the manual recount of ballots listed as under and over votes, Clellands victory margin was 146 votes.

Clellands victory puts the House at 76 Republicans, 44 Democrats -- a five-seat improvement for the Democrats.

Dorworth had earlier accepted his defeat, sending a letter to the House Republican caucus. The caucus members have already selected a replacement -- Rep. Steve Crisafulli, R-Merritt Island -- to be the speaker following House Speaker-designate Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after the 2014 election.

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