DENVER, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Republican Bob Beauprez defeated Democrat Mike Feeley by 122 votes in a final unofficial count in Colorado's new 7th Congressional District Thursday but an automatic recount was triggered by the closeness of the race.
In the final count, Beauprez received 81,530 votes and Feeley drew 81,408 votes, according to Colorado Secretary of State Donetta Davidson.
Because the difference was less than the statutory threshold for a mandatory recount, a recount will be conducted at a date to be determined, Davidson said.
In a teleconference from Washington, Beauprez told reporters he was pleased with the victory and he pledged to his constituents to carry through on his campaign promises.
"I want to assure them that we will be working on the issues that were talked about in this campaign, creating jobs, getting this economy going again, reducing the tax burden on working families," he said. "Certainly in very short order we are talking back here in Washington about a prescription drug plan for seniors that they certainly deserve and have been waiting for."
Beauprez said he didn't expect the automatic recount to bring much change in the outcome after the election clerks have been gone over the ballots so many times.
"The number may change slightly but I think it will be very slight at this point so we're gonna get on with it," he said.
Feeley spokesman Steve Welchert told the Denver Post the campaign needed a closer look at the results.
"This has been such a topsy-turvy inconsistent process. It needs to be looked at closer," he said.
The final count had been delayed by a dispute over the counting of provisional ballots in three counties. Feeley contended elections officials were using different standards to count about 2,000 of the special ballots.
Provisional ballots are issued to voters who show up at the polls with registration problems, such as a new address that does not show on records. Clerks have to go through the voter's qualifications to determine if those votes are counted.
Feeley filed a federal lawsuit Monday asking that a federal judge order the elections officials in Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties to count all the ballots. He alleged some of the ballots were being improperly discarded by clerks.
Denver District Judge William Robbins ruled Wednesday that the elections officials count all the ballots, which delayed the final count until Thursday. Beauprez's campaign had indicated earlier in the day they might appeal that ruling but he said late Thursday night they would not.
Feeley won Adams and Arapahoe counties but lost to Beauprez in Jefferson County. Beauprez had led Feeley by 386 votes until the count of the disputed provisional ballots was completed Thursday.
