The Republican Party had a plate full of nail-biters during Tuesday’s primary elections for Kentucky’s statewide offices and now more than one race will be re-canvassed.
Commissioner of Agriculture candidate Richard Heath has formally requested a re-cancass by the Secretary of State’s office. The state representative from Mayfield was defeated on Tuesday by fellow State Rep. Ryan Quarles of Georgetown by a margin of 92,700 to 91,276. Heath said on Tuesday that he would seek a re-canvass and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes notified the media on Thursday that the formal request had been received.
The agriculture commissioner race will be reviewed along with the Republican primary for governor that found Louisville businessman Matt Bevin ahead by 83 votes over current Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer.
That re-canvass request was received on Wednesday.
Grimes is forwarding the requests to all county clerks and reminding them of the re-canvass procedures. Her office also sent information and forms for a potential re-canvass prior to the election.
“Our office is always available to assist county boards of elections in any way we can,” Grimes said in a news release. “Integrity in our elections processes is crucial, and Kentuckians deserve to know that their votes are properly counted and tabulated.”
County boards of elections will convene on May 28 at 9 a.m.to recheck and recanvass the voting machines. Immediately upon completion of the recanvass, the county boards of elections will file their recanvass reports with the Secretary of State.
The winner of the Republican primary for governor will face Democratic nominee Jack Conway and the agriculture commissioner candidate will face Democrat Jean-Marie Lawson Spann.
-Staff report
Photo: Richard Heath (via Facebook)