![Winner Finally Declared in Close House Race](http://townsquare.media/site/672/files/2018/11/RS2346_104351920-scr-1.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Winner Finally Declared in Close House Race
Northeast Iowa election officials have finally declared a winner in an extremely tight Election Day contest, after a recount was held Tuesday for the Iowa House District 55 seat.
After the initial count of the votes in the November 6th general election, incumbent Republican Representative Michael Bergan had a 7 vote advantage over his challenger, Democrat Kayla Koether. The district includes portions of Winneshiek, Clayton and Fayette Counties.
Koether called for a recount, which was held Tuesday at the Winneshiek County Courthouse in Decorah. The ballots were counted by hand and machine. Two people, each representing a candidate, plus a third person selected by both, tallied up the votes, and found a few more for both candidates.
However, the recount found five more votes for Bergan in Winneshiek County, while Koether picked up only three: two in Winneshiek County and one in Clayton County.
Bergan's total was 6,924; Koether's was 6,915, a difference of only 9 votes, to put Bergan back in the Iowa House for another term.
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