Story Created:
Sep 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM AKDT
Story Updated:
Sep 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM AKDT
Alaska's Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell conceded a tight Republican primary race to the incumbent U.S. Representative Don Young. Parnell will not seek a recount, saying he has a high degree of
confidence in the state elections office that he oversees. After outstanding absentee and questioned ballots were counted Wednesday, Parnell trailed Young by 304 votes in the race for Alaska's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since the margin between the two was so close, the state would have paid for a recount.
Instead Parnell conceded, emailing a statement to reporters.
He says another factor in his decision was Governor Sarah Palin's new role as John McCain's running mate. Parnell says he is stepping in more to fill Palin's official state duties since she joined the campaign trail.
The primary was held August 26, and Parnell had trailed Young by
a few hundred votes, despite Palin's support and a legal cloud over
Young. Young will face Ethan Berkowitz, the former state House minority leader, in the general election.
