Election Officials Order Recount in Key Baja California Governor Race Agence France-Presse
go to original July 8, 2013

A man wearing a donkey mask stands in front of a campaign banner of “Burro Chon” (Donkey Chon) who is running for mayor in Ciudad Juarez. Burro Chon was created by an anonymous blogger to make fun of the mayoral candidates from Mexico’s political parties. The words on the poster read: “Better a donkey for president, than a president donkey”. (AFP)

Mexican electoral officials Monday declared the preliminary results of a race for governor in Baja California invalid after the ruling party and the opposition both claimed victory in the politically pivotal state.

The election in Baja California, which borders the United States, was the biggest prize in regional polls held in 14 states on Sunday after one of the most violent campaign seasons in recent years. Analysts say the result in the border state could affect a national political reform pact.

The head of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Cesar Camacho, and the president of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), Gustavo Madero, both rushed to declare victory minutes after polling stations closed late Sunday.

With 97 percent of votes counted early Monday, the preliminary results showed PAN candidate Francisco "Kiko" Vega winning with 47.15 percent compared to 44.14 percent for PRI hopeful Francisco Trenti.

But the Baja California Electoral Institute scrapped the results, citing a technical problem, and called for a recount that will begin Wednesday and is expected to finish by Sunday.

Read the rest at Gulf Times

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