CHURCHTOWN, Ansleigha--After several hand recounts, Ansleigha Sen. Jan Vanderhoogen (N) has conceded his seat to his Conservative opponent, former Sen. Luke Gymbal.
The latest recount, finalized this morning, showed the vote totals from the initial election night count virtually unchanged. According to Ansleigha Secretary of State Doug Hassitch, the final tally has Vanderhoogen trailing Gymbal 49.69% to 50.31%, or 10,035 votes out of more than 1.6 million cast.
Vanderhoogen held a hastily-arranged press conference this afternoon, telling reporters in Mavocke that it was very difficult to admit defeat, but he has chosen to concede the race so the voters of Ansleigha will not be subjected to a lengthy legal battle.
"It's very difficult to concede, yes. I have loved serving as a senator, and I was hoping to continue my service in the Senate. But this was a very close race, and it appears that the numbers have not moved that much in my favor following the recounts, and I think the best thing I can do at this point is to concede the race to Mr. Gymbal and bring a resolution to this close race," Vanderhoogen said.
Gymbal's campaign issued a statement, thanking Vanderhoogen for choosing not to engage in a bitter legal dispute.
"We applaud Jan Vanderhoogen's decision to stand down and accept the will of the people," the statement read.
Vanderhoogen's defeat is a huge disappointment for Nationalists, who expected him to narrowly win re-election; and it's also a huge coup for Senate Conservatives, as they pulled off a win in the home state of Conservative Senate Campaign Committee (CSCC) Chairman Jon Ralston, something many never dreamed possible.
Despite Vanderhoogen's loss, Nationalists are still expected to have a solid majority in the Senate for the first time in over a decade, once all the races' outcomes have been resolved.
Vanderhoogen did not address his political future, but aides to the senator say he is not done with politics, and there is heavy speculation he may challenge Ralston in 2014, when the CSCC chairman is up for re-elction.
The latest recount, finalized this morning, showed the vote totals from the initial election night count virtually unchanged. According to Ansleigha Secretary of State Doug Hassitch, the final tally has Vanderhoogen trailing Gymbal 49.69% to 50.31%, or 10,035 votes out of more than 1.6 million cast.
Vanderhoogen held a hastily-arranged press conference this afternoon, telling reporters in Mavocke that it was very difficult to admit defeat, but he has chosen to concede the race so the voters of Ansleigha will not be subjected to a lengthy legal battle.
"It's very difficult to concede, yes. I have loved serving as a senator, and I was hoping to continue my service in the Senate. But this was a very close race, and it appears that the numbers have not moved that much in my favor following the recounts, and I think the best thing I can do at this point is to concede the race to Mr. Gymbal and bring a resolution to this close race," Vanderhoogen said.
Gymbal's campaign issued a statement, thanking Vanderhoogen for choosing not to engage in a bitter legal dispute.
"We applaud Jan Vanderhoogen's decision to stand down and accept the will of the people," the statement read.
Vanderhoogen's defeat is a huge disappointment for Nationalists, who expected him to narrowly win re-election; and it's also a huge coup for Senate Conservatives, as they pulled off a win in the home state of Conservative Senate Campaign Committee (CSCC) Chairman Jon Ralston, something many never dreamed possible.
Despite Vanderhoogen's loss, Nationalists are still expected to have a solid majority in the Senate for the first time in over a decade, once all the races' outcomes have been resolved.
Vanderhoogen did not address his political future, but aides to the senator say he is not done with politics, and there is heavy speculation he may challenge Ralston in 2014, when the CSCC chairman is up for re-elction.
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