It's over. Democrat Ben McAdams eliminates Republican Representative Mia Love by 694 votes

The final count of votes Tuesday showed that Democrat Ben McAdams had not jumped when he declared victory a day earlier to Republican Rep. Mia Love.

He won by 694 votes, a margin of 50.129% to 49.871. This margin of 0.258 barely exceeded the 0.25% that would have allowed Love to request a recount.

At the same time, Proposal 4, which aims to end gerrymandering by creating an independent commission to redefine political boundaries after each census has also won, is also proposed in Proposition 4 closest to the state. with a margin of 50.34 to 49.66.

These results were obtained Tuesday after county votes throughout the county. A state visit Monday at noon will certify the final results of the races in several counties.

"It is now time to start representing the people of Utah in Congress," said Mayor Salt Lake Township Mayor McAdams on Tuesday. "It's time to bring people together and get going."

Love, the only black Republican woman in the House, was later to make a statement about the race. Her staff said that she was in the state for Thanksgiving and that she would not give any interviews until the end of the holidays.

Like McAdams, the supporters of the Prop 4 have been relieved and look to the future.

"The voice of the people will again be heard in the course of the legislative lines – ensuring that the Utahns choose their representatives and not the other way around. We hope the voice of the people will be respected and honored, "said Better Boundaries Co-Chairs Jeff Wright and Ralph Becker.

Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, said the McAdams-Love race boiled down to these provisional ballots. The people who ran on polling day registered to vote and then voted widely for Prop 2 [for medicinal marijuana] and Ben McAdams. It's there that he has gained a lot of ground. "

The Clerk of Salt Lake County, Sherrie Swensen, said in part because of the tight race in her riding: "The turnout was unprecedented: a turnout rate of 81.93% for a mid-election. -mandate". and 2014 mid-term was only 52%.

The end of counting votes after two long weeks now allows McAdams to focus on the future work of the Congress – and he spoke about it in interviews and press conferences.

It will be the only Democratic delegation of the Utah Congress – that is, it will also be the only Utahn of the new Democratic majority in the US House, but among the non-conformists who have committed not to vote for Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi to become the new Speaker of the House.

"First of all, I'm part of Team Utah first and foremost. I look forward to working with all members of the delegation, "he said.

"Throughout my public service, I have always worked with Republicans, whether in the state legislature or in Salt Lake County. I am comfortable to cross the driveway, as I have done often. "

On the continuing opposition to Pelosi, he said, "I made it very clear that the time has come for a new leadership in Washington. I am following up on what I promised and said during the campaign …. The time has come for a new leadership in Washington. "

He mentioned some issues at the top of his agenda.

"I really hope we can tackle immigration reform, especially by providing solutions for" dreamers, "said McAdams.

"Utah families need to be relieved by uncertainties about their health care coverage, costs, and access to health care."

He added: "Our state needs investments in transport, in our infrastructure that supports the growth and economic development of this district."

And he added, "One of the first things we are going to do is hold a public meeting for the constituents to tell me what their priorities are." McAdams and his supporters blamed Love for not holding meetings traditional.

With such a low margin of victory, McAdams is expected to face a new election battle in just two years – and possibly a rematch with Love, though other Republicans may be interested in getting into the fray.

"This election has shown that given the right variables, this district is not safe for both parties," Perry said. "I think it's too early to tell if Mia Love will run again. She was in this position once before when she lost to [former Democratic Rep.] Jim Matheson by a similar number of votes. And she came back strong from that.

The next election in 2020 would be in a presidential year, which could encourage Republicans to vote in greater numbers. President Donald Trump, however, is not popular in Utah and has a lower approval rate in the 4th district than in the country as a whole.

In addition, Medical Marijuana Prop 2, which has probably helped McAdams by bringing in younger, non-traditional voters, will not be on the ballot next time.

"I think that a good public service is the best step toward re-election," McAdams said. "My goal will be to serve the people of Utah, hold public meetings, meet with voters, listen to them and show them that I am working hard to represent them."

He added, "I think there are too many campaigns and not enough services. So I plan to spend a lot of time over the next year and serve the people. "

McAdams stated that he had probably won because "this race was intended to determine who was best placed to serve Utah …. j & # 39; have [Utahns’] interests in the heart, not Washington, DC, or a partisan agenda. I'll put Utah first.

His campaign manager, Andrew Roberts, said that no element had contributed to the election of McAdams, but said McAdams's message on bipartisanship was probably the key to gaining support many constituents of the district.

"His message about touching the aisles to get things done is what we think we are finally understood by the voters," he said.

While Love's campaign refuses interviews until his return from Thanksgiving, his campaign manager, Dave Hansen, said earlier that standing in a mid-term election when President Trump was not popular in Utah Love hurts.

"If Hillary Clinton won the presidency in 2016, it would not be so tight," said Hansen, adding that Republicans in the 4th district would probably have been more enthusiastic about helping and fighting Clinton. .