State Sen.-elect George Dungan and Nebraska Democratic Chair Jane Kleeb expressed their faith in the integrity of Nebraska’s election systems amid Republican Russ Barger’s petition challenging the results.
“I have complete faith in both our elections and the systems that we currently have in place to count ballots,” Dungan said. “By initiating legal action to require a recount by hand, Mr. Barger is simply furthering election conspiracy theories that have no place in Nebraska. He absolutely has the right to a recount as provided by law but has decided not to avail himself of that process. I continue to be honored that the voters of LD26 elected me to represent them. I am eager to put this distraction behind us and get to work serving the people of Nebraska.”
Said Kleeb: “The Democratic Party believes in the work the Nebraska Secretary of State and the Lancaster County Election Commissioner have performed ensuring a fair election. The attempts of Republicans who lost their race to now litigate the issues using trumped-up claims is yet another stain on their party going all in on conspiracy theories.”
Background: The race for Lincoln’s District 26 seat was won by Dungan, who had 5,960 votes to Barger’s 5,736 votes. Barger asked the Secretary of State last week to order a hand recount of ballots, but was told by the Nebraska Secretary of State that state law allows for machine recounts. Barger has now filed a petition to the courts.
The State Board of Canvassers certified the election results on Monday.
