Oregon Public Broadcasting

An updated vote tally from counties across Oregon suggests that Democrat Susan Castillo has more votes than she needs to hang on to her job. But just barely.

Castillo is Oregon's Superintendent of Public Instruction. Amelia Templeton reports.

Incumbent Castillo needed to get fifty percent of the votes cast in the race — plus just one more vote —  to avoid a run off in the fall.

According to unofficial results posted by the Secretary of State, Castillo received 50.02 percent of the vote. That's a close margin, but  not close enough to trigger a run off.

The results also won't prompt a state-mandated recount.

The result of the race needs to be certified and isn't official until next week. But it probably won't change.

Republican challenger Ron Maurer is considering asking for a recount. But he would have to pay for it himself. Maurer says the format of a ballot in Lane County may have led voters to choose Castillo accidentally.

Don Hamilton is a spokesman for the Oregon Secretary of State. Don Hamilton: "Every ballot that's counted goes through a rigorous inspection procedure. Lane County's ballots in this case showed no problems whatsoever" Maurer has until June 22nd to ask for a recount.