With unanswered questions at 71 Baltimore precincts, candidates must decide this week whether to mount a formal challenge to a primary election in which there was a series of irregularities. The campaign of former Mayor Sheila Dixon said she was considering whether to contest the vote before the deadline Tuesday to request a recount. Martha McKenna, a spokeswoman for Dixon, said campaign officials were investigating issues left unresolved following last week’s recertification of the primary. A review by the state Board of Elections left Dixon behind state Sen. Catherine E. Pugh in the mayor’s race by 2,400 votes. “We’re pressing for more information,” McKenna said. “We’re in the process of trying to determine how we want to proceed, and we’ve contacted the [state] Board of Elections with additional questions and we’re hoping to get answers.”
McKenna said the campaign also was considering other measures, including litigation. Court challenges must be filed by June 6, seven business days after the recertification. Dara Lindenbaum, an attorney for Pugh, said her campaign supported the review of the primary.
“The board conducted a thorough review of all of the results, and we now have finality,” Lindenbaum said. “We’re moving forward to a general election. If and when any challenge is filed, we will vigorously defend the voters’ decision to nominate Senator Pugh.”
Pending a challenge, Pugh will face Republican Alan Walden and Green Party nominee Joshua Harris in the general election in November. State officials intervened in the primary following a series of irregularities. Thy counted 169 more ballots last week. The new totals did not change the outcome of any race.
Full Article: Deadline to ask for recount in Baltimore’s primary election is Tuesday – Baltimore Sun.