Oregon Primary Headed for Recount
U.S. Rep. Les AuCoin led businessman Harry Lonsdale by 255 votes Friday as the final absentee ballots from Tuesday’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate were being counted.
A recount was almost assured. Under Oregon law, a final gap of fewer than about 600 votes would trigger an automatic recount.
With absentee ballots counted in 35 of 36 counties, AuCoin had 151,712 votes to Lonsdale’s 151,457 votes. The winner will face Republican incumbent Sen. Bob Packwood in the Nov. 3 election.
AuCoin, a nine-term House veteran, had begun the primary race as the clear favorite. But he was hurt by disclosures he had written 83 overdrafts totaling more than $60,000 on his account at the now-defunct House bank. AuCoin said it was an honest mistake that embarrassed him.
Lonsdale made heavy use of the check issue in a campaign in which he portrayed himself as the outsider deploring the perks and privileges of Capitol Hill.
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