Incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., called Republican challenger Rick Scott on Sunday to concede their race, ending a protracted dispute between the rivals over the results of their tight election.
“I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service,” Scott said via a statement of Nelson, who had been vying for a fourth term in office. “Now the campaign truly is behind us, and that’s where we need to leave it. We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country. My focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work.”
Scott, Florida’s current governor, was 10,033 votes ahead of Nelson after a Sunday deadline for a hand recount, according to state officials. The manual tabulation had been triggered by the closeness of Scott’s slim vote count advantage over Scott following a machine recount, which concluded Thursday.
In a recorded address, Nelson thanked his constituents, which he has served since 2001.
“Well, things turned out a little differently than we had hoped, but I by no means feel defeated,” Nelson wrote on Twitter. “It’s been a rewarding journey and a very humbling experience. No one could be more blessed.”
[Also read: Brenda Snipes out as Broward County elections chief]
Well, things turned out a little differently than we had hoped, but I by no means feel defeated. That’s because I’ve had the privilege of serving the people of Florida for most of my life. It’s been a rewarding journey and a very humbling experience. No one could be more blessed. pic.twitter.com/aGIf5nFcyZ
— Nelson for U.S. Senate (@NelsonForSenate) November 18, 2018
President Trump extended his congratulations to Scott, a longtime ally, on his electoral victory.
“From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!” Trump tweeted.
From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida. Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2018
Trump had previously weighed in on the political fight between Scott and Nelson’s two camps, threatening to send lawyers to “expose the fraud” allegedly experienced at Florida’s polling stations.
Nelson’s campaign had pinned its hopes on a slew of legal challenges seeking to make up the 12,603-vote lead Scott enjoyed after the automated recount. One such lawsuit sought to extend the deadline for rejected mail-in ballots, many of which were tossed out because of mismatched signatures.
Nelson’s lawyer, Marc Elias, believed his candidate could have prevailed over Scott if voting machines rejected irregular ballots an election official would certify in a hand recount. But Broward County, a Democratic stronghold where tens of thousands of ballots did not even register a Senate choice, finished a hand recount Friday without making a difference for Nelson.
The manual recount tallies for all of Florida’s 67 counties were due Sunday. State officials will certify and announce final and official results Tuesday.
Nelson’s concession comes one day after Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, conceded in his contest against Republican opponent Rep. Ron DeSantis. Florida’s agriculture commissioner race had similarly been in limbo amid a recount effort.
