Recounts last week in Augusta confirmed Republican John McDonough had defeated Democrat Shawn Babine, and Democrat Peggy Pendleton had defeated Republican Sylvia Most.

McDonough won the House District 127 race representing Scarborough, and Pendleton won the House District 128 race representing Scarborough.

Babine lost by 49 votes on Election Day. He gained only six votes in the recount Nov. 14, losing by a final vote of 2,151-2,108. Pendleton won by 21 votes on Election Day and actually picked up five votes during the recount, winning 2,079-2,053.

The state did a recount automatically in the race between Most and Pendleton because the margin of victory was less than 1 percent. Babine requested a recount in that race the day after the election – something he was allowed to do free of charge because the margin of victory was less than 2 percent.

“I’ve filed to request a recount given the close, close race,” said Babine on Nov. 8, who added that a mix up with ballots also influenced his decision to request a recount.

According to Scarborough Town Clerk Tody Justice, about six voters were given the wrong ballot. An election worker who ran out of ballots was given the incorrect package, said Justice. No more than six, she said, were handed out before the error was corrected. The rest of the election, she added, went smoothly.

Still, said Babine, it could have affected both district races.

McDonough expressed confidence throughout the morning Tuesday that the recount would confirm his win. “I’m pleased and grateful to have won the race. I congratulate my opponent for running a good and clean campaign, and I wish him well in the future,” said McDonough.

Babine said he has no immediate plans to run for the Legislature again, but he said he is looking forward to his next two years on the Scarborough Town Council. “I’m still very proud of what I did,” Babine said Tuesday. “To come within 43 votes, I feel like I’m on the right track.”

Pendleton said she was tired but happy after the race was declared shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday. “It was a tough campaign. We worked hard, both Sylvia and I. We ran a clean campaign and set an example for others,” said Pendleton.

Most said the final outcome was a disappointment. “I did a lot of work on this campaign and got a good reception door-to-door. I did not expect a landslide victory on election night, but I did expect to win,” said Most.

Most wouldn’t rule out a run in 2008.

According to Doug Dunbar with the Secretary of State’s office, all candidates involved provided six counters who counted each ballot by hand under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s office. A number of recounts will be conducted through Nov. 27, including House Districts 44, 39, 81, 43, 94, 13, 20, 91, 55, 32 and 102 and the Knox County Commissioner race.