REDMOND, OR -- The fight for the House District 53 Republican nomination is tighter than first thought. The Deschutes County Clerk certified the May Primary on Monday. after all write-in and disputed ballots were counted, realtor Jack Zika’s lead narrowed from 11 to just two, over political activist Ben Schimmoller.
Zika received 3,771 votes to Schimmoller’s 3,769. There were 30 write-ins. A recount is expected Thursday, to determine the accuracy of the numbers.
The winner of the GOP primary will take on Democrat Eileen Kiely in November. The House District 53 seat is currently held by Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) who plans to retire at the end of the year.
