SD-26 recount scheduled to begin Nov. 24; Clapp to issue statement soon

As Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's office prepares for a recount in the state Senate District 26 race, Republican Lauri Clapp is reportedly ready to concede the race to Democrat Linda Newell.

With provisional ballots counted in Arapahoe County, Newell leads Clapp by 191 votes.

Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Doty said her office will begin a countywide recount of starting Nov. 24. The recount, triggered by law because the vote margin is less than 0.5 percent of the total number of votes cast, would likely take until the first week of December, according to Doty.

Republican Senate Caucus Chair Mike Kopp told PolitickerCO.com that Clapp would likely concede within a day or so.

"Unless the vote count changes pretty dramatically going into the recount, I wouldn't expect for the results to change dramatically," Kopp said.

Reached by phone, Clapp wouldn't tell PolitickerCO.com her plans, but she said she would send out a press release soon detailing her future plans.  

Newell was visibly happy when told Clapp planned to send out a release, and sounded like she had won the election.

"I will absolutely represent every single constituent in the same manner," Newell said. "Especially Lauri Clapp."