As savvy internet news readers probably know by now, Rep. Will Hartnett (R), who was appointed special master in the election challenge brought by Talmadge Heflin (R) against Hubert Vo (D), has issued his recommendation that the challenge be dismissed:
Longtime Republican Rep. Talmadge Heflin failed to prove that his November loss to Democrat Rep. Hubert Vo should be overturned, a lawmaker overseeing the House election contest reported Monday.
Republican Rep. Will Hartnett, who was named “master of discovery” in Heflin’s challenge of the race, found that Vo’s margin of victory was reduced from 33 votes to 16 votes. But Hartnett recommended that the challenge be dismissed.
“Heflin has failed to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the outcome of the contested election … was not the true outcome of the election,” Hartnett wrote in his report to a special committee that will consider the election challenge this week.
Ultimately, the case will go before the GOP-controlled Texas House, which could declare a winner or call for a new election.
Hartnett’s report is available here.
UPDATE: KTRH-740 reports that Heflin has withdrawn his challenge, rather than pursue it to the floor.
