SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz picked up seven votes after a bag of previously uncounted ballots was found in his South Texas district, but still trails Republican Blake Farenthold by 792.
The 73-year-old Ortiz has refused to concede a House seat he’s held for nearly three decades. He’s mulling a recount.
Seven ballots, all marked for Ortiz, were found in Nueces County and certified at the county courthouse in Corpus Christi. Ortiz says the new votes Thursday are proof the race remains too close to call.
Farenthold is a 48-year-old former small business owner. Unofficial results showed he received 50,954 votes to Ortiz’s 50,155.
The 27th district includes Corpus Christi on the Gulf Coast and stretches down to Brownsville and the border with Mexico.