Tie In 65th District House Race
Tom Brungardt and Melody Saxton are tied with 206 votes apiece following Thursday’s canvass of the votes from the primary election last week. They are the Democratic candidates for the 65th district seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Geary County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer said the two candidates have an opportunity to request a recount until 5 p.m. Friday. If they do not or a recount results in another tie the outcome will be certified to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office. Because it is a state race the State Board of Canvassers would have to break the tie. Bossemeyer is not sure how that would be done.
Saxton picked up five votes on Brungardt following the counting of provisional ballots during the local vote canvass. “ This is a marathon race not just a local race.”
Brungardt expressed disappointment. “Obviously I’m real disappointed for not only myself but for the Democratic Party. We need to have a nominee in place, and obviously we don’t have one in place right now so we’re sort of in limbo at the moment.”
The winner of the Democratic primary will meet Republican Allan Rothlisberg in the November general election.