MILFORD, Del.- A nail-biting rematch in Delaware's Republican Primary has one candidate requesting a recount.
Unofficial election results for House District 36 from the Delaware Department of Elections show incumbent Representative Bryan Shupe with 50.26 percent of the votes to challenger Patrick Smith's 49.74 percent. What's more, the total votes show Shupe edged out Smith by only 12 votes: 1,157 to 1,145.
The total votes show Shupe edged out Smith by only 12 votes: 1,157 to 1,145.
On social media late Tuesday night, Shupe declared victory.
"With your help, we earned our second primary win in a row!" Shupe wrote. "Thank you to Team Shupe for consistently being positive, focusing on our community, and campaigning with integrity."
But Smith isn't giving up the fight.
"We will be requesting a recount," Smith's official campaign page posted. "Standby."
Tuesday's race was the second time Smith and Shupe faced off against each other. Shupe beat Smith with 68 percent of the vote in 2022.
In 2016, Shupe, a Milford graduate, was elected as the youngest mayor in Milford’s history. Elected to the Delaware General Assembly in 2018, Shupe has spearheaded reforms in clean water, vocational training, voting rights, early childhood education, government transparency and budget stabilization.
Smith was born in Hagerstown, Maryland but spent his early years in Milford. His career includes work as an abuse investigator for the Delaware Department of Children Youth and Families (DSCYF) and an administrative role at the Dover Fire Department, where he also served as a volunteer firefighter. Currently, Smith works remotely as an IT professional.
This article will be updated as campaign results are made official.
