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FLORIDA – The US Senate race between Florida governor Rick Scott and Senator Bill Nelson is statistically too close to the goal to call, although Scott called him for himself Tuesday night.
The survey results are 50-50 and Scott is slightly ahead with less than 40,000 votes.
Eyewitness News covers every aspect of this huge story. Watch the reaction from both sides – and the counting – LIVE on Channel 9 from 4pm.
Nelson issued a statement requesting a recount Wednesday morning. According to Florida law, an automatic recount is called if the final numbers between the candidates are closer than 0.5% of each other. Nelson's campaign revealed that Scott's lead was below this threshold at 0.4%.
A candidate himself can not request a recount, according to state law. Only the secretary of state can do it.
#RUPTURE– REMINDER: Bill Nelson's staff said there would be a recount under state law, despite @scottforflorida claim victory last night. The margin between the two is less than 0.5% pic.twitter.com/0eyX60FzOn
– Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) November 7, 2018
"We are recounting," Nelson said in a statement.
Rick Scott's campaign said the race is over.
"It's a sad way for Bill Nelson to end his career, he's desperately trying to keep something that does not exist anymore," said Chris Hartline, Scott's spokesman for Florida.
In a speech made in front of supporters in Naples shortly before midnight Tuesday, Scott said he was confident in his victory.
"We have been doing it for more than 200 years, and after these campaigns, we are meeting and that is what we are going to do, we are coming together," he said.
"So thank you all because everyone in this room is one of them."
Nelson did not concede the race and never came to talk to the crowd at his campaign watch night on Tuesday night.
Nelson has been sitting in the Senate since 2001 and before that in Congress since 1979.
Associated Press reported that Scott's margin at Wednesday morning was less than half a percent.
This is a story in development. Stay tuned to Channel 9 for updates.
"Let's get to work!" – @ScottforFlorida declaring himself the new Florida senator … unofficially. #wftv pic.twitter.com/CzkvUyyDtZ
– Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) November 7, 2018
According to the guidelines of the Florida Division of Elections, this could last until next week. The second set of unofficial statements from a possible recount should not be reported until Thursday, November 15th.
– Karla Ray (@KRayWFTV) November 7, 2018
© 2018 Cox Media Group.
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