A third state House recount: Belsito vs. Eastwood

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s office said Thursday that a third state House race will be subject to a recount: the re-election of Rep. Sam Belsito, R-Tolland, by 47 votes over Democrat Susan Eastwood in the 53rd District of Ashford, Tolland and Willington.

On Wednesday, the office said automatic recounts would be held to review the 14-vote re-election of Rep. James Albis, D-East Haven, and the 54-vote win by Democrat Liz Linehan of Cheshire for an open seat.

Under Connecticut law, recounts are required in legislative races if the margin of victory is less than one-half of 1 percent of votes cast for that office or less than twenty votes.

Returns reported to to the secretary of the state showed Belsito outpolling Eastwood, 6,383 to 6,336.