Oregon Public Broadcasting

Nearly a month after May primary in Oregon, one of the candidates for statewide office is finally conceding his race.

Ron Maurer is telling supporters he is abandoning efforts to press for a recount in his attempt to unseat state schools superintendent Susan Castillo.

Here's a case where write-in votes almost upset the apple cart.

So many people wrote in names on the ballot for Superintendent of Public Instruction that incumbent Susan Castillo almost didn't exceed 50 percent of the vote despite being ahead.

Sinking below 50 percent would have triggered a runoff between the two candidates.

In fact, Castillo avoided that scenario by just 127 votes.

That narrow margin led her opponent, Republican State Representative Ron Maurer, to consider requesting a recount. But in an online message to supporters, Maurer cited limited resources as the chief reason he's giving up the quest.

A statewide recount would have cost Maurer more than $100,000, and his campaign is virtually out of cash.

Online:

Ron Maurer's message to supporters