By a margin of nearly 9,000 votes, Republican J.B. Van Hollen was pronounced the winner in the state attorney general race Wednesday morning over Democrat Kathleen Falk, after the close race dragged on through Tuesday night without a sure winner. Though Falk acknowledged Van Hollen's majority, she voiced interest in pursuing a recount of the votes.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Van Hollen and Falk both had 50 percent of the vote, with 1,059,784 and 1,050,729 votes, respectively, according to unofficial returns.
Van Hollen addressed the press at the Capitol Wednesday.
""As law enforcement's choice, and now the people's choice, I will work with local and federal authorities to make Wisconsin the safest place to work, live and raise a family,"" he said at the conference.
Chair of the College Democrats Eli Lewien said, ""We were very very surprised [with the results] considering there was a democratic sweep across the state of Wisconsin and the United States.""
Though Van Hollen was victorious, Falk had a lead going into the race. In opinion polls taken between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 by WISC/Research 2000 showed Falk had the popular vote with a seven percent lead over Van Hollen. The poll had a four percent margin of error.
Although most have recognized Van Hollen as the winner, Falk's camp would not rule out the possibility of a recount.
""Kathleen Falk has called J.B. Van Hollen to wish him the best,"" Falk's campaign manager Tim Del Monico, said in a statement. ""Given the narrowness of the election results we will review the official canvass when it is completed by the Elections Board and evaluate the options.""
Public Information Officer of the state Elections Board Kyle Richmond said a recount request cannot be made until all of the county results have been submitted to the SEB for certification.
""[It is a] deliberate process that is not very satisfying to the public who is used to instant answers on things,"" he said.
County clerks have 14 days to submit their canvasses to the SEB and Falk will have three business days following county submissions to put forth a formal request. By Nov. 27, Falk will have to specify which of the 7,570 voting wards must be recounted if she decides to follow through with a recount.
Regarding whether Falk pursues a recount, Richmond said, ""[Falk] may want to look at the probability of whether or not she can shift ... thousands of votes.""
Lewien said, ""Given the nature of our voting system, she has the right to push for the recount if she wants.""
She added that the Democrats will support Falk regardless of her decision.
