WESTPORT — Republican candidate Christopher Thrasher said he will seek a hand recount in the close race for 8th Bristol District state representative.
According to Tuesday’s results , which are still uncertified, Democrat Steven Ouellette won the race by 143 votes, 7,290 to Thrasher’s 7,147.
Thrasher said he will pursue a formal request for a hand recount in all five district communities: New Bedford, Fall River, Acushnet, Freetown, and Westport.
The 8th Bristol District includes Precincts 2 and 3 in Acushnet; Ward 1 Precinct A and Ward 6 Precincts A and B in Fall River; Precincts 2 and 3 in Freetown; Ward 1 Precinct B1 and C in New Bedford, and all of Westport.
What were the unofficial 8th Bristol District election results
The unofficial results were as follows:
Westport: Ouellette 3,941, Thrasher 3,519; Fall River: Ouellette 1,368; Thrasher 1,260; Freetown: Thrasher 1,165, Ouellette 862; Acushnet: Thrasher 937, Ouellette 808; New Bedford: Ouellette 311, Thrasher 266.
Thrasher stated in a press release that the decision comes “in response to the extremely narrow vote margin, reports from Election Day, and a significant volume of requests from district residents who are seeking assurances that every vote is fully and accurately accounted for.”