Secretary of State Orders Hand Recount in Massachusetts' 3rd District Congressional Race

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin has officially ordered a district-wide hand recount in the 3rd Congressional District.

The recount comes after Democratic candidate Daniel Koh filed a sufficient number of signatures to request the recount.

Under state law, the boards of registrars in each city and town in the district must now set a date to recount all Democratic ballots cast in their communities in the Sept. 4 state primary. The recount in each municipality must be completed by Sept. 17.

Candidate Lori Trahan is claiming a 122-vote victory in last week's Democratic primary race against Koh.

The outcome is based on certified vote tallies by municipal clerks in the 37-community district, the Trahan campaign said.

Trahan’s declaration follows a close call with her opponent after both she and Koh held 22 percent of the votes with 100 percent of results reported. Both candidates were among a dozen individuals who ran to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Nikki Tsongas, who announced she wasn't seeking re-election last year.

Koh's campaign filed for a recount Friday when Trahan led the race by a 52-vote margin.

If the recount upholds the results, Trahan would advance to the general election in November and face Republican Rick Green and Independent Mike Mullen.

"I'm energized and ready for what will be a hard-fought battle against a Republican with deep pockets and strong ties to Trump," she said in a statement. "My campaign must go forward full-steam ahead to keep this seat with the Democrats and continue the Tsongas legacy of serving the working families of this district."

Galvin ordered all ballots and election paperwork impounded on Sept. 5, in anticipation of a possible recount. The ballots will remain under seal and locked in each community until the recount begins.