For the first time, Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera has pulled ahead of his Republican rival in the keenly-fought Congressional race from Sacramento County in California.
At the end of Wednesday’s counting, Bera led Republican Doug Ose by 711 votes. Over the previous eight days since the counting began on November 4, it was Ose who was in the lead, though sliding steadily.
However, with several thousand ballots still to be counted, Bera is not taking the race for granted and is alive to the possibility of a recount in the event of a close finish that could further delay declaration of the result.
“This race is still incredibly close - within 1000 votes - and we need to be ready for a recount,” Bera said in a statement, telling his supporters: “We must be prepared to keep our team on the ground for as long as it takes to ensure an accurate outcome.”
A total of six Congressional districts, including three in California, are still regarded as too close to call. If the Republicans can gain at least one of these seats, then they will achieve their largest majority in the House of Representatives since 1928.