PoliticsPoliticsFlorida Election2012 election

Allen West Recount Request Suggests 'Disturbing Irregularities' At Polls

West Demands Recount, Blames 'Disturbing Irregularities' For Loss
Elise Foley
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Though several outlets had declared the race between Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) and Democrat Patrick Murphy a victory for Murphy as of Wednesday morning, with Murphy even accepting the congressional seat in a statement, West has so far refused to concede.

And West's campaign isn't pleased that people keep saying he's out, according to a statement posted on his Facebook page Wednesday morning:

Our race is far from decided and there is no rush to declare an outcome. Ensuring a fair and accurate counting off all ballots is of the utmost importance. There are still tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted in Palm Beach County and potential provisional ballots across the district. Late last night Congressman West maintained a district wide lead of nearly 2000 votes until the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections “recounted” thousands of early ballots. Following that "recount" Congressman West trailed by 2,400 votes. In addition, there were numerous other disturbing irregularities reported at polls across St. Lucie County including the doors to polling places being locked when the polls closed in direct violation of Florida law, thereby preventing the public from witnessing the procedures used to tabulate results. The St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections office clearly ignored proper rules and procedures, and the scene at the Supervisor’s office last night could only be described as complete chaos. Given the hostility and demonstrated incompetence of the St. Lucie County Supervisor of Elections, we believe it is critical that a full hand recount of the ballots take place in St. Lucie County. We will continue to fight to ensure every vote is counted properly and fairly, and accordingly we will pursue all legal means necessary.

Murphy is leading West 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent with 100 percent of the votes counted, according to HuffPost Pollster -- with 160,328 votes to 157,862. The district is the only House race in Florida that has yet to be called.

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Before You Go

100 Years Of Election Night Losers
2012 -- Mitt Romney(01 of27)
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Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, speaks at the podium as he concedes the presidency on November 7, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
2008 -- John McCain (02 of27)
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Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., gestures to his supporters, while his wife, Cindy looks on during his concession speech at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (credit:AP)
2004 -- John Kerry(03 of27)
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Former Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) stands on stage with his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry after delivering his concession speech at Faneuil Hall on November 3, 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
2000 -- Al Gore(04 of27)
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Democratic presidental candidate Al Gore leaves the voting booth after casting his vote at Forks River Elementry School in Elmwood, Tennessee on November 7, 2000. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
1996 -- Bob Dole(05 of27)
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Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole lowers his head while making his concession speech to supporters at a Washington hotel, on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 1996. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) (credit:AP)
1992 -- George H.W. Bush (06 of27)
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U.S. President George Bush concedes the election on Nov. 3, 1992 after losing to President-elect Bill Clinton. (BOB DAEMMRICH/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
1992 -- Ross Perot(07 of27)
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U.S. independent presidential candidate Ross Perot delivers his concession speech on November 3, 1992 after Democrat Bill Clinton won the presidential election. (Photo credit should read PAUL RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
1988 -- Michael Dukakis (08 of27)
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Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis wipes his upper lip during the first presidential debate with his opponent U.S. Vice President George Bush in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Sept. 25, 1988. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan) (credit:AP)
1984 -- Walter Mondale (09 of27)
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Defeated presidential hopeful Walter Mondale addresses supporters at night, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 1984 at the St. Paul Civic center, conceding to President Reagan. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) (credit:AP)
1980 -- Jimmy Carter(10 of27)
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U.S. President Jimmy Carter concedes defeat in the presidential election as he addresses a group of Carter-Mondale supporters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1980. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma) (credit:AP)
1976 -- Gerald Ford(11 of27)
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President Gerald Ford speaks in the White House Press Room in Washington on November 3, 1976, conceding defeat to Jimmy Carter. (AP photo/ stf) (credit:AP)
1972 -- George McGovern(12 of27)
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Sen. George McGovern and his family in Sioux Falls, election night, Nov. 7, 1972 after he was defeated by Richard Nixon, and conceding the election. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1968 -- Hubert H. Humphrey(13 of27)
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Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey spaks at the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner in Waldorf Astoria on Oct. 16, 1968 in New York. (AP Photo/John Lent) (credit:AP)
1964 -- Barry Goldwater (14 of27)
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A contact sheet of Republican senator Barry Morris Goldwater of Arizona concedes the 1964 presidential election to President Lyndon Johnson at a press conference held at his campaign headquarters at the Camelback Inn, Phoenix, Arizona, on November 4, 1964. (Photo by Washington Bureau/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
1960 -- Richard Nixon (15 of27)
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Vice President Nixon points to home-made sign at airport as he arrives in home state to cast his ballot on Nov. 8, 1960 in Ontario, California. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1956 -- Adlai Stevenson(16 of27)
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Sen. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts talks with Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson on August 12, 1956 in Chicago. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1952 -- Adlai Stevenson (17 of27)
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Movie Actress Piper Laurie (left) is wearing a donkey head beauty spot on her cheek as she chats with Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois, Democratic presidential nominee in Portland on Sept. 8, 1952. (AP Photo) (credit:AP )
1948 -- Thomas Dewey(18 of27)
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Dewey ran as the presidential candidate of the Republican Party in the elections of 1944 and 1948. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
1944, 1948 -- Thomas Dewey(19 of27)
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Thomas Dewey (1902 - 1971) Governor of the State of New York broadcasting over the 'Crusade of Freedom' radio. Dewey was the presidential candidate of the Republican Party in the elections of 1944 and 1948. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
1940 -- Wendell Wilkie(20 of27)
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Wendell Willkie, rehearses a report to the nation at a New York City radio station on Oct. 26, 1942. Willkie was President Roosevelt's personal representative, and his Republican opponent in the 1940 presidential elections. (AP Photo/Murray Becker) (credit:AP)
1936 -- Alf Landon(21 of27)
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Gov. Alf M. Landon, G.O.P. presidential nominee, voting in Independence, Kansas on Nov. 3, 1936. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1932 -- Herbert Hoover(22 of27)
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Herbert Hoover is shown leaving Madison Square Garden, Oct. 31, 1932 in New York City, after delivering his major campaign address before a crowd estimated at 22,000. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1928 -- Alfred E. Smith(23 of27)
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Governor Alfred E. Smith speaks in New York on Nov. 2, 1928. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1924 -- John W. Davis(24 of27)
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John W. Davis, Democratic nominee for President of the U.S., and his wife, are pictured on the estate of Charles Dana Gibson at Seven Hundred Acre Island in Dark Harbor, Maine on July 21, 1924. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
1920 -- James M. Cox (25 of27)
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Democratic candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency of the United States, Governor James M Cox and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) are seen at the head of a nomination parade in Dayton, Ohio on Nov. 1, 1920. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Getty )
1916 -- Charles Evans Hughes(26 of27)
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(credit:Alamy)
1912 -- Theodore Roosevelt (27 of27)
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Theodore Roosevelt during the progressive campaign of 1912. (AP Photo) (credit:AP)
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