Republican wants recount in key California House primary

Republican candidate Lesli Gooch has asked for a recount in the race for retiring Rep. Gary Miller’s (R-Calif.) seat, a top Democratic pickup opportunity.

{mosads}Gooch, a former Hill staffer, finished third in the all-party primary, trailing Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar (D) by 209 votes with all votes officially counted. Aguilar and Republican Paul Chabot are currently set to face off this fall.

“We have been in consultation with campaign attorneys and polling data experts over the past several days,” Gooch campaign manager Jeff Stinson told The San Bernardino Sun. “They feel a recount is warranted and have identified the precincts that will be recounted, and this afternoon we formally requested a recount pursuant to California State Law for certain precincts in the 31st Congressional District.”

If she somehow makes up the vote difference and finishes ahead of Aguilar it would cost Democrats potentially their best chance at winning a House seat in a heavily Democratic district. That would be a replay from two years ago, when two Republicans advanced and Democrats were left without a candidate in the favorable district. 

Gooch’s campaign will have to pay for the recount.