Democrat Kilroy Picks Up House Seat In Ohio After Protracted Count
The Democrats have picked up another House seat tonight, with Dem candidate Mary Jo Kilroy now declared the winner in the open 15th District, by a margin of just 0.76%, in a race that took over a month to count.
The result for this race was delayed by legal wrangling over about 1,000 provisional ballots, which was in turn holding up the actual counting of about 27,000 additional provisional votes. Once those issues were all settled in court, the count was finally able to proceed and show that Kilroy pulled off the win.
Only two House races are not totally over: A recount seems likely in Louisiana's Fourth District, where Republican John Fleming has a lead of 356 votes with some provisionals remaining to be tallied; and GOP Rep. Virgil Goode from Virginia is in the middle of a recount, but it seems unlikely to reverse his narrow loss.
Assuming the apparent winners in those remaining races hold up, Democrats have picked up a net 21 House seats, for a total of 257 Democratic seats to the Republicans' 178.
Great. I'd much rather have her than that disgusting Jefferson any day. If the Democrats had ousted Jefferson in the primary, that seat would still be in Dem hands. I hope we can get it back in 2010.
But, of course, we will lose 3-4 seats in the south in 2010, including the ones in Alabama and Mississippi. Those Democrats didn't want to have anything to do with Obama for fear of offending white voters. The Senate run-off Georgia should make them realize that they wouldn't have had a chance if Obama wasn't on the ballot. Since he won't be in 2010, they'll go down in flames because black turnout will be low. Can't say that I care much.
December 7, 2008 9:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.E. Obama has two years to get the ball rolling. If something takes off, like people getting back to work, earning a decent wage and public infrastructure improvements in the Deep South, then the folks down there may lighten up. I remember an old saying from down there ... As long as you have money in your pocket, you're not poor. That's all P.E. Obama has to do to keep them happy - money in their pockets after they pay off their monthly bills.
December 8, 2008 7:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
This isn't about whether voters will be happy with Obama in 2010; it's about southern Democrats winning in red districts. Those congressmen won because black turnout was through the roof to vote for Obama. Mid-term voter turnout is always low and it's very likely that black turnout will be 35-45% v the 75-85% in 2008. That's not enough to get southern white democrats across the finish line.
December 8, 2008 8:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's my congresscritter, people!
Yay, us!
~
December 7, 2008 11:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Looking like there's no update on the Minnesota recount. A formidable cover up is looking towards another one. It's a shame the Democrats lost in Georgia. It's terrific Democrats are victorious. Othersie, looking for a great night out a house music club. Still way anti-house, sick of the esp in my life. Wondering, hoping, waiting, tossing, loping, poking. ?
December 8, 2008 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is my Congressional District too.
The Repubs won the battle (getting about 1000 voters disenfranchised by the all-Repub Ohio Supreme Court), but lost the war/election, as Kilroy surged to victory with a margin beyond what it takes to get an automatic recount.
Way to go, Mary Jo!!!!
December 8, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink