Florida Gov. Rick Scott speaks during an event in Hialeah, Fla. MUST CREDIT: Bloomberg photo by Scott McIntyre 775192837
Recount Live Blog: Gov. Rick Scott is speaking for the first time since election night
The Republican Senate candidate is holding a late-night press conference as the state is headed for an unprecedented three recounts.
By Steve Contorno
Tampa Bay Times
8:31 — “I am proud to be the next Senator for the great state of Florida,” Rick Scott said.
Scott ends the press conference without taking any questions.
8:30 — “Some believe this is simply rank incompetence. That is certainly true,” Rick Scott said. But it would be naive to think they are overruling the will of the voters, he adds.
Scott is asking for law enforcement to investigate immediately and he will use every legal options necessary, he said.
8:29 — Rick Scott now giving the career of Sen. Bill Nelson’s hired lawyer, Marc Elias, a veteran recount attorney. Scott said he’s trying to “steal the election.” Scott said they’re “mysteriously finding more votes.”
8:27 — Rick Scott: “We have just filed a lawsuit.”
“I will not sit idly by while unethical liberals try to steal this election.”
It sounds like Scott is suing both Palm Beach and Broward counties.
8:26: Rick Scott: “It has been over 48 hours since the polls closed” and ballots still being found in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. “The people of Florida deserve fairness and transparency.” Florida voters should be concerned about “rampant fraud.”
8:24 — Rick Scott is at the lectern.
8:15 — Here’s a feed if you want to follow along.
8:10 — The National Review, a conservative publication, just posted this lawsuit. Rick Scott and the National Republican Senatorial Committee appear to be suing the Broward County Supervisor of Elections over ballot counting. Scott says there is a “lack of transparency” that “raises concerns” and Scott is demanding access to public records.
Here’s the lawsuit.
8:00 p.m. — Reporters are assembling outside the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee.
At the Governor’s Mansion, where @FLGovScott is expected to speak shortly on voting problems pic.twitter.com/8uqsuoY6lf
— Elizabeth Koh (@elizabethrkoh) November 9, 2018
?Florida Gov. Rick Scott will be holding a press conference in an hour at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee regarding Broward County’s vote count process ?
— Ana Ceballos (@anaceballos_) November 9, 2018
7:45 p.m. —
Gov. Rick Scott has called a press conference for 8:15 p.m. from the Tallahassee Governor’s Mansion “regarding election results.”
Scott, a Republican, is running for U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson in a race that appears headed for a recount. As of 7:30 p.m., Scott led Nelson by 15,175 votes.
Two other statewide contests are likely going to a recount as well. For governor, Republican Ron DeSantis holds a 36,333-vote edge over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried holds a razor-thin 2,841-vote advantage over Republican Matt Caldwell.
Scott has not spoken publicly since election night, when he claimed victory over Nelson, even though no news outlets declared the race won. The Associated Press has yet to call the race.
— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) November 9, 2018
This story will be updated as Scott speaks to the media.