Judge Calls New Election For 'Tied' Mass. House Race

A Worcester Superior Court judge ordered a new election for a contested Massachusetts House seat after ruling the November contest ended in a tie.

The ruling by Justice Richard Tucker means Democratic incumbent Rep. Geraldo Alicea of Charlton will again face off against Republican challenger Peter Durant of Spencer.

An earlier recount of had placed Durant one vote ahead. But Tucker ruled a single uncounted vote for Alicea should be included in the official tally, ending in a tie. Tucker then ordered a new election.

Durant says he's not planning on an appeal.

"We'll absolutely be doing a full campaign, in fact we're back at it today," he said. "Do I expect the nature of it to change? No, not really."

Secretary of State William Galvin said he hopes to hold the election on May 10, the same day a special election has been scheduled to fill a House seat left vacant when former Rep. Peter Koutoujian was appointed Middlesex County sheriff.

Alicea says it will be harder to get people to vote in an off-election, but says the contest will get more attention now.

"There were other races going on, so I don't think people really got to hear what the real message of what my accomplishments were," he said. "And that's going to be main focus now."