Collins’ lead grows in Orleans after absentees counted
Chris Collins’ lead has grown in Orleans County over challenger Nate McMurray for the 27th Congressional District.
After the votes were counted on Nov. 6, Collins had a lead of about 3,000 votes over McMurray out of abut 250,000 cast in the eight counties. In Orleans, the vote was 4,505 for McMurray and 7,269 for Collins from the polls on Nov. 6.
The closeness of the votes for all eight counties prompted McMurray to insist on a recount and that all absentee ballots be included before calling the race.
The Orleans County Board of Election counted the absentees, provisional and affidavit ballots on Thursday and Friday. Those 580 ballots increased Collins’ lead over McMurray. Collins, the incumbent seeking a fourth term, received 310 more votes, while McMurray picked up 257. (Larry Piegza, a Reform Party candidate, received 13 more through the absentees for 299 total votes in the county.)
McMurray, on Twitter today, urged patience while the Board of Elections counts all the votes.
“Man it’s simple, we haven’t even finished the first ‘count,’” he wrote on Twitter. “Let’s count them up properly and see what’s what. But if you think I’m going to let this crooked man and his lackeys, just slip into office, think again. No easy layups.”
