Evan Low has won the recount in the 16th Congressional district race, defeating Joe Simitian by five votes to set up a showdown with Sam Liccardo in the November election.
Liccardo and Low are vying to replace Rep. Anna Eshoo, who is retiring.
Low entered Wednesday up four votes after Santa Clara County finished its part of the two county count. But there was still the question of the 16 challenged ballots In San Mateo County, where officials ruled that seven previously uncounted votes should be counted.
"Bottom line is Evan Low received one additional ballot for his race and everything else pretty much remained the same," said Jim Irizarry, San Mateo County's assistant chief elections officer.
"I am incredibly excited about this opportunity to advance to the November election," Low said. "If any, it demonstrates that every count votes."
Meanwhile, Simitian said in a statement Wednesday that he accepts the results and was disappointed.
In all, 182,000 ballots across the district were recounted.
Jonathan Padilla, who requested the recount, told NBC Bay Area on Wednesday that he's glad that all of the votes were counted and will not challenge any more ballots.
Low heads to the November general election against Liccardo.
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Liccardo has faced questions about the recount, which was triggered by Padilla, who helped run his San Jose mayoral campaign years ago. But Padilla and Liccardo's campaign claim there was "no coordination."
In a statement, Liccardo's campaign thanked election officials and then called out Low, saying in part that Low "tried multiple times to undermine and stop the recount process."
San Jose State University political science professor Melinda Jackson told NBC Bay Area Wednesday that Low presents a more difficult challenge for Liccardo, given their stark differences like age and the groups they represent.
"I think the gloves are going to come off now that we’re looking at a two-person race and a pretty competitive contest, a congressional seat is high stakes," she said.
Now, California's Secretary of State has to certify the results. San Mateo County officials said that it could take a couple of weeks.
