BLACKSBURG, Va. – Update;
An 11-hour recount Thursday confirmed Michael Sutphin as Blacksburg’s next mayor, maintaining his razor-thin margin of 18 votes over local business owner Pete Macedo.
The recount, which came after more than a month of waiting, validated the initial election results while showing minor variations in vote distribution across precincts.
“I think it’s probably the best possible outcome, because it shows that our election system is secure,” Sutphin said. “That we have an accurate and precise [system], and that the folks that were working here did an amazing job.”
Despite the close loss, Macedo remained optimistic about the process and its implications for future local elections.
“This was all about making sure that everybody’s voice was heard and be accurate as possible,” Macedo said. “While we did still have the same split in the votes, in some certain parts it went up, others went down. So our total votes are different, the way the votes came in are different.”
The extended election process appears to have fostered a spirit of civic engagement. Macedo highlighted the value of his campaign experience, noting, “It was amazing for me to spend so much time talking to my community and learning from them and helping shape what I could do for them, and what we can do together.”
Sutphin, who expressed relief at the conclusion of the extended electoral process, will take office at the beginning of 2026. The transition in city leadership will also include Susan Anderson as the new vice-mayor, following her top performance in the town council election.
“I’m very glad that it’s over. It has been a very long day,” Sutphin said.
The recount process demonstrated the precision of local election systems while highlighting the significance of every vote in local elections, where margins can be extraordinarily tight.
Original:
Michael Sutphin has been confirmed as the winner of the Blacksburg Mayoral Race after a recount on Friday.
Vice Mayor Sutphin initially defeated Pete Macedo by a margin of just 18 votes before Macedo ultimately requested a recount.
After the recount Friday night the margin of victory remained the same for Sutphin but the vote total changed with Macedo receiving 5556 votes and Sutphin receiving 5574.
The recount vote started around 9 a.m. Friday morning and involved more than 20 volunteers using six scanners to recount all the votes. A group of three judges presided over the process.
We will have more coverage on Friday night on 10 News at 11.