State Assembly chambers (Photo: Jackie Johnson)
Republicans will return to the Capitol next year controlling 63 of the 99 seats in the state Assembly, after Democrat Dick Cates announced he will not seek a recount in a close race for a seat in the 51st Assembly District.
The decision means Republican Todd Novak’s Election Night victory will stand and the GOP will have its largest majority in the chamber since 1957. An initial tally of the vote on November 4 showed Cates losing the race by 59 votes. An official canvass done this week increased that margin by five votes, to 64.
In a statement, Cates said “The voters have spoken, and the margin of 64 votes is too much to overcome in this race. I have decided-reluctantly-not to ask for a recount.”