Key outcomes of the Nov. 2 elections were still unfolding in North Carolina and Washington state last week, though officials in Alabama have certified a controversial education-related vote there.
A manual recount in Washington has placed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Christine O. Gregoire ahead of her Republican foe, Dino Rossi, by 130 votes. Secretary of State Sam Reed was expected to certify the results late last week. A legal challenge by Mr. Rossi, who posted a 42-vote win in a previous recount, is possible.
Meanwhile, the North Carolina Supreme Court on Dec. 22 blocked June Atkinson, a Democrat, from taking over as the state’s new superintendent of education while it hears arguments by Republican challenger Bill Fletcher, who is contesting some 10,000 ballots.
Mr. Fletcher, who trailed Ms. Atkinson by some 8,500 votes, gets his day in court on Jan. 18.
In Alabama, a statewide recount confirmed the defeat of Amendment 2, a measure to repeal segregation-era language from the state constitution. Opponents had argued that if passed, it could lead to increased taxes for schools. The final tally was 690,376 in favor and 688,530 against, or a difference of just 2 percent.
