Campaign

Possible recount looms over Rep. Mike McIntyre in North Carolina’s 7th district

by Mario Trujillo - 11/19/12 4:18 PM ET

One of the few remaining Blue Dog democrats, Rep. Mike McIntyre, is claiming a narrow victory in the 7th congressional district of North Carolina –— but still faces a possible recount.

{mosads}McIntyre held a 655-vote lead — 168,697 votes to 168,042 — over his Republican opponent, David Rouzer, after the final vote tally on Friday.

The race has not yet been called. The margin is well within the limits to trigger an automatic recount if Rouzer chooses to seek one.

Rouzer’s campaign has not conceded the election to McIntyre and told The Hill it would make an announcement on its decision either Monday or Tuesday. Rouzer has until noon Tuesday to request a recount, according to the The Bladen Journal.

Both parties contested the race fiercely, with the Democrats and Republicans spending more in the district than both candidates.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spent $2.5 million, with the House Majority PAC spending another $130,000 to protect McIntyre’s seat, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Rouzer was given Young Gun status by the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee, the highest fundraising label given by the committee. The committee spent $1.9 million, while the Young Gun Action Fund, a super-PAC, threw in another $1.5 million to try to unseat McIntyre.

Following the counting of provisional ballots on Friday, McIntyre claimed victory. He made no mention of a potential recount.

“I’m honored that the voters of eastern North Carolina have put their trust in me to represent them in Washington. I thank them for their confidence and pledge to continue to put their interests first,” he said in a statement.

“Our country faces many challenges and we need less partisan rhetoric and more cooperation in Washington. I will continue my work to lower the deficit, cut government spending and red tape so small businesses can flourish and we can create more jobs.”

McIntyre’s campaign wouldn’t comment on the potential for a recount.

McIntyre ran on his experience and his high-ranking position on the House Agricultural Committee. In the press release announcing his victory, he touted his advancement to the committee’s No. 2 position.

2024 Election Coverage

He weathered a tough election cycle in 2010 that narrowed the Blue Dog Coalition, winning his own race by 6 percentage points. Fewer than 15 Blue Dogs will return to the chamber in the 113th Congress, after holding 54 members in the 111th Congress.

Rouzer attempted to tie McIntyre to President Obama throughout the campaign in one of the few swing states that tilted back to the GOP in the presidential election.