The Democrat winner in NY-23 could still lose

Democrat Bill Owens, who was sworn into Congress last week and immediately voted for a controversial health care legislation, has a lead that has narrowed to 3,026 votes with about 5,800 absentee ballots received so far that have yet to be counted, according to a routine recanvassing of the votes.

The Conservative candidate in a New York congressional race that drew national attention said Friday that he regrets conceding the election, after a review of the votes revealed the race is too close to call.

Democrat Bill Owens, who was sworn into Congress last week and immediately voted for controversial health care legislation, still hasn't been certified the winner by local elections officials. His lead over Conservative Doug Hoffman has narrowed to 3,026 votes with about 5,800 absentee ballots received so far that have yet to be counted, according to a routine recanvassing of the votes.

Premature concession: Hoffman trails by 3,026

A recanvassing of votes in the NY-23 special Congressional election has turned up a surprise. Bill Owens, the Democrat who won the seat and ended a long period of Republican hegemony, has already been sworn into office, but the vote counts now show Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman much closer than thought on Election Night. Thought to be down over 5300 votes, the final counts in the district show Hoffman trailing by 3,026 — with over 10,000 absentee ballots left to count: