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McDaniel Campaign Examines Ballots Ahead of Election Challenge

Volunteers for Chris McDaniel’s Senate campaign sorted through Mississippi ballot boxes on Monday looking for voter irregularities.
Image: File photo of McDaniel delivering a concession speech in Hattiesburg
Tea Party candidate Chris McDaniel delivers a concession speech in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in this June 24, 2014 file photo. McDaniel, who lost Mississippi's Republican U.S. Senate primary last week, took an initial step on July 3, 2014 toward challenging its outcome, serving papers to the son of his opponent. JONATHAN BACHMAN / Reuters

Volunteers for Chris McDaniel’s Senate campaign sorted through Mississippi ballot boxes on Monday looking for voter irregularities in preparation for a possible legal challenge to the results of last month’s runoff election against Sen. Thad Cochran.

McDaniel campaign lawyer Mitch Tyner said trained volunteers were searching to find instances of people fraudulently voting both in the June 3 Democratic primary and the Republican runoff on June 24.

Attorneys said the campaign has discovered “thousands” of voting irregularities, but will not know the full scope until later in the week. They expect the number to exceed 6,700 -- the amount Cochran defeated his tea party-backed challenger. The Cochran campaign has disputed McDaniel's claims, dismissing threats of a challenge as fundraising ploy to help him retire campaign debt.

Tyner told reporters the next step will be a challenge to the executive committee of the Mississippi GOP, but did not specify when that may occur.

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