Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – After the final mail-in and provisional ballots were counted Tuesday, Sangamon County Recorder Josh Langfelder fell short in his bid for reelection, losing to challenger and Springfield City Clerk Frank Lesko by 31 votes.

Following the Nov. 5 election, Lesko led by 68 votes. The updated tally confirmed Langfelder’s loss.

Source: Sangamon County Clerk

Langfelder remained upbeat despite the outcome. “I’m not disheartened. We ran a great campaign and a professional office,” he said. “This came down to a political gimmick and misinformation about my earnings, making it seem like I stole money from taxpayers—which isn’t true.”

Langfelder, who captured nearly 50% of the vote, said he’s potentially considering a discovery recount. “With 98,000 ballots cast, losing by 31 votes makes you think it’s worth looking into,” he said. He plans to consult with others before deciding his next steps. Langfelder added he isn’t ruling out running for another office.

Lesko, meanwhile, celebrated his win. “I’m feeling really good,” he said. “It was a fair and honest election, and I’m looking forward to serving the people of Sangamon County.” Lesko reiterated his campaign promise to eliminate the recorder’s office, saying it could save taxpayers money. Ultimately, he noted, the decision will be up to voters through a referendum, as other counties have made similar moves.

Sangamon County Clerk Don Gray, who oversees elections, called the razor-thin margin remarkable. “With over 100,000 ballots cast, it’s amazing that it came down to just 31 votes,” Gray said, adding it highlights the importance of every vote.

Another Close Contest

The recorder’s race wasn’t the only nail-biter. In the Sangamon County Board District 25 race, Jennifer Deaner held a nine-vote lead over Jennifer Merritt going into Tuesday’s count. After all ballots were tallied, Deaner prevailed by just three votes.

What’s Next?

Gray’s office will conduct a formal canvass to certify the results by Nov. 26 with the State Board of Elections. Both the recorder’s race and county board contests fall within the margin for a losing candidate to request a discovery recount. Candidates can file for a recount starting Nov. 26, with a deadline of Dec. 2.

If a discovery recount is pursued, candidates must specify which precincts they want reviewed, up to 25% of the jurisdiction. Gray said the process hasn’t been done before in Sangamon County, and it’s hard to say how long it would take.