Updated: 11/20/19 - 9:01 P.M.
VESTAL, NY (WSKG) - Libertarian Mike Korchak has been declared the winner of the race for Broome County District Attorney, but Republican Paul Battisti is not conceding.
According to the latest numbers from the Broome County Board of Elections, Korchak has 15,524 votes, 55 more than Battisti. Democrat Debra Gelson finished third with 11,525 votes.
An earlier version of this story reported the difference was 46 votes. That number was given by the Broome Board of Elections, which has since updated the total.
"I am not conceding this race," Battisti said in a statement. "Considering all of the changes to the election process, including but not limited to the first-ever opportunity for early voting and the first-ever use of electronic poll books at polling sites, I'm asking for the Broome County Board of Elections to conduct a full handcount and review of every ballot cast in this election to ensure and true and accurate result."
Reynolds told WSKG that he and Republican Commissioner Mark Smith will meet this week to consider Battisti's request. In the meantime, Korchak is moving forward as District Attorney-elect.
"Having observed the process firsthand and placing my confidence in not only the system in place, but the hard work, dedication and meticulous actions of the team at the Board of Elections, I am respectfully declaring victory in this race," he wrote on his campaign's Facebook page.
After election day, Korchak and Battisti each had about 36 percent of the vote and were separated by only 122 votes. Democrat Debra Gelson was in third with 27 percent.
Korchak ran on the Libertarian line after losing the Republican nomination to Battisti in the spring. That race also came down to absentee ballots.
Battisti currently works as a defense attorney. Korchak is current Chief Assistant DA under Steve Cornwell, who’s leaving the office to run for Congress.*
*This post has been updated to reflect the latest vote tally and statements from candidates.