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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin is ordering a hand recount in two extraordinarily close state House races.
The (slightly) closer race is near the Merrimack Valley, in the Second Essex District. Republican Rep. Leonard Mirra is leading over Democratic challenger Kristin Kassner by just 10 votes, 11,754 votes to 11,744. That's a difference of just 0.04%.
In the First Middlesex District, Democrat Margaret Scarsdale leads Republican Andrew Shepherd by 17 votes, 9,384 to 9,367.
Galvin's office says both trailing candidates submitted recounts requests before last week's deadline. Practically, the results will mean little in terms of the balance of power in the state House, as Democrats have a supermajority and can't lose it based on the outcome of the races.
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