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Sanders Concedes Missouri Primary, Won't Seek Recount

Sanders told the Associated Press that he would "prefer to save the taxpayers of Missouri some money”
Image: Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders Holds Primary Night Rally In Phoenix, Arizona
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at the Phoenix Convention Center during a campaign rally on March 15, 2016. Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary elections in Florida, North Carolina and Ohio. Ralph Freso / Getty Images

Bernie Sanders has conceded to Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's tight Democratic primary race in Missouri, telling the Associated Press that he will not seek a recount in the contest that separated them by only about 1,500 votes.

Sanders told the Associated Press that he would "prefer to save the taxpayers of Missouri some money” and said that a recount likely would not affect how delegates from the state are awarded.

After Tuesday night's primary, NBC News called Clinton the apparent winner of the contest with 310,602 votes to Sanders' 309,071.

State law allows a candidate to request a recount if the margin separating two top candidates is less than one percent of the total vote.

The victory for Clinton means that her campaign won a clean sweep of the five major contests held on March 15 in Missouri, North Carolina, Illinois, Ohio and Florida.