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WESTPORT — Christopher Thrasher, the Republican candidate in the Bristol 8th race for state representative, is pursuing a “hand recount” in all five of the district’s towns and cities. He cited potential errors at various polling places that he said could have swayed an extremely close election that may be decided by a margin of less than 1% of voters.
“In a race as close as this, our foremost responsibility is to ensure the highest standards of accountability and transparency,” Thrasher wrote in a Thursday press release. “Our goal is not only to confirm the accuracy of the election results but also to honor the trust placed in us by the residents of the 8th Bristol District.”
The election may be decided by just 143 votes, according to unofficial results posted late Tuesday night. Democratic candidate Steve Ouellette won the election with a total of 7,290 votes from the district’s five towns, while Thrasher received a total of 7,147 votes, according to the same unofficial results. That is a margin of less than 1%.
The official results have not yet been submitted. Debra O’Malley, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s office, said a small number of mostly provisional and mail-in ballots are still being counted, and no election results have been certified.
In his statement, Thrasher listed several “notable factors” that led to his decision to pursue a recount. In some precincts, he said, unofficial results reported post-election night did not match those observed by campaign poll watchers. He also said he received reports of “spoiled ballots” being re-cast, though he declined to comment further on details of those reports.
“I have no concerns about that happening in our town,” said Westport Town Clerk Kristin Stinson, regarding Thrasher’s claims of spoiled ballots being re-cast. She said that one voting machine in Precinct E stopped working on Election Day. It was replaced, she said, and “had no impact at all” on the results.
Thrasher said that his intent is not to “cast aspersions” on the integrity of the election, but to uphold its standards.
“The pursuit of a hand recount is made in full respect of the electoral process, the work of our election officials, and the residents of this district,” Thrasher said. “We seek a recount not to cast doubt on the integrity of election officials or other candidates, but as an act of due diligence and a commitment to transparency and voter trust.”
The 8th Bristol District stretches from Westport to Acushnet and includes parts of New Bedford, Fall River and Freetown. It was the most crowded local race in the November election, with five candidates vying to fill the open seat. In addition to Ouellette and Thrasher, the race included three independent candidates: Jesse St. Gelais, Laura Hadley and Manuel Soares.
Thrasher launched his campaign as a write-in candidate just weeks before the primary with no Republican challenger. The 39-year-old ballot access attorney moved to Westport in 2021 and quickly got involved in local politics. He joined the town’s Finance Committee and was elected this year in an uncontested race to fill a seat on the town’s School Committee.
His political consulting firm mostly works with independent candidates on the national level. Most recently, his firm received a six-figure sum for consulting on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s failed presidential campaign. He gained significant support for his vocal criticism of the offshore wind industry and blasting the state’s “one-party supermajority where very little gets done.”
Ouellette has long served on the Westport Select Board and as facilities director of the region’s public schools. If the unofficial results hold, he will replace Paul Schmid, who has held the state House seat for 14 years. Ouellette’s narrow win in the election shows that Republicans have made significant inroads in the district. He couldn’t be reached by phone Thursday.
Election certifications are due by Nov. 20. O’Malley said Trasher would be able to submit a request for a recount to the district’s clerks before that date if he gathers 10 signatures per precinct or ward. She added that most recount petitions are submitted on the grounds of unofficial results.
“While we fully recognize that a recount may not alter the reported results as they currently stand, it remains our duty to pursue this course for the sake of clarity and confidence in the democratic process,” said Thrasher. “The decision to pursue a hand recount has not been taken lightly.”
Email reporter Will Sennott at wsennot@newbedfordlight.org.
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