Recount Called In Keitt, McCloat Race In 134th House District

FAIRFIELD, CT — A recount of votes in the state 134th House District race between Democrat Sarah Keitt and Republican Meghan McCloat has been called by the Secretary of State's office, both campaigns announced on Thursday.

The district represents parts of Fairfield and Trumbull, and both communities will conduct recounts.

McCloat had an edge of 5,050 votes to Keitt's 5,023 votes, according to the Secretary of State's website. But Keitt's campaign said that after absentee ballots had been counted by hand, Keitt held an 11-vote lead, 5,127 to 5,116.

"I trust in the process, and we are going to let it play out," Keitt told Patch in a statement. "The wonderful people of the 134th District deserve to have all their votes counted. After the automatic recount is complete, we will, of course, accept the results whichever way they turn out."

McCloat said that she, too, welcomed the news about the recount, particularly because of confusion over the numbers.

"There has been significant confusion about the actual numbers since the polls closed Tuesday night—mainly in Fairfield, where the results have changed several times amid questions about whether absentee ballots were tabulated and handled properly according to well-established legal procedures," McCloat said. "It’s my hope that this recount will once and for all provide Sarah Keitt and I with accurate vote tallies from Fairfield as well as greater clarity on what transpired there on Election Day and the subsequent 48 hours."

On Thursday, the Secretary of State's office had the vote tally in Fairfield as 3,680 for Keitt, and 3,641 for McCloat. Early Wednesday, the vote tally in Fairfield was 3,585 for Keitt, and 3,574 for McCloat.

"Voters, too, deserve a full and transparent accounting of the results, and like them I am eager to see this process begin," McCloat said. "Our elections deserve to be conducted with the highest level of integrity, following our process to the letter so that we can all be confident in the outcome and proceed together working in the best interests of our state."

Steven Sheinberg, chair of the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee, is optimistic that Keitt will come out on top.

"Sarah Keitt gave her all to this campaign," Sheinberg said. "While there will be a recount, we are hopeful Sarah will have the opportunity to go to Hartford and represent her district."