TPM ::: FL-13: Jennings Could Still Prevail — If Vote Goes To The House Itself

[jefferson_dem]

FL-13: Jennings Could Still Prevail — If Vote Goes To The House Itself
By Eric Kleefeld | bio

Vern Buchanan might have been certified as the winner in this race, but it's far from over. Democratic candidate Christine Jennings is already contesting the results, citing reports of malfunctioning voting machines, and if Jennings refuses to concede and shows enough evidence of malfunctions, the race could be decided...in the House itself.

A new article in Roll Call spells it out (paid subscription): Election watchers around the country think that the race could end up before a House committee — the House Administration Committee, which oversees Federal elections. If so, the full House, which in the end is responsible for seating new members, could potentially vote on which of the two candidates to seat, thus deciding the race's outcome itself — or could call for a new recount, or even declare the seat vacant and mandate a new election. Right now, of course, the House is still GOP-controlled, but by the time of this vote it could be in the hands of Dems — meaning Jennings could conceivably pull off a win after all.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2006/nov/20/fl_13_final_stage_of_house_seat_battle_could_be_the_house

[davidwparker]

1. Keep fighting!

[lapfog_1]

2. Can the current House (lame ducks) preemptively vote on this

issue and seat Vern Buchanan? Given that the election is now "certified". Something the repukes could do along with all the Presidents last minute "the store is closing" laundry list of very partisan crap?

[yellowcanine]

3. I think the new House has to settle any disputed election results.

I do not think the old House has any say in the matter. But I could be wrong. However, I would advise the Dems to tread carefully and be fair about it. These things have a way of backfiring if it looks like the will of the people in the district was overturned by the House.

[lpbk2713]

4. It's plain for anyone to see that something bogus had to happen here.....

with that 18,000 vote gap and how Christine won in her area's reddest and largest city.

[Independent_Liberal]

5. How many more undecideds do we have left?

Are our current numbers something like 232-198?