Bitter battle for Florida Senate seat goes to hand recount

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes.

But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race.

http://www.startribune.com/deadlines-looming-in-pivotal-rancorous-florida-recounts/500565131/