FL-13 Update: Buchanan takes his seat

Rep. Vern Buchanan spoke his first words as a member of Congress today:

Buchanan's first vote

There's no turning back now. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, (R-Longboat Key) is officially a member of Congress.

Sitting about four rows from the front of the chamber, Buchanan registered his first vote as a member of Congress.

Buchanan voted for Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) to be the Speaker of the House.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) won the vote to be the speaker, but Buchanan joined with all Republicans in voting for Boehner.

Wearing a black suit and red tie, Buchanan rose to his feet and announced his vote: "Mr. John Boehner," his first words on the House floor.

This doesn't mean the Christine Jennings has given up the fight:

Jennings is keeping her fingers crossed that the courts will call for a re-vote, but (political analyst Lars) Hafner is not so sure.

"I think it’s highly unlikely at this point. As time goes on, people begin to want to move on," he said.

Rep. Rush Holt, a New Jersey Democrat, is expected to formally ask House leaders to recognize the court challenge against Buchanan. Jennings also hopes a House committee will launch an independent investigation.

Meanwhile, Vern Buchanan maintains the voting machines were working properly on Election Day.

In a statement sent to Tampa Bay's 10 News, Buchanan said: “I am ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the concerns of my constituents.”

Despite Jennings' refusal to step aside, it now looks as if this dispute is near its end.

NR's Byron York picked-up the story today. He believes that this may have signaled the end for electronic voting.

Still, for all the problems, experts are coming around to the idea that voting is one of those things — like the wooden baseball bat or the handwritten Post-it note — where the low-tech solution is the best. Yes, Democrats will still protest when they lose elections. But everyone will have more confidence when real, paper ballots determine the winner. Just ask Congressman Buchanan.

I agree.

This should be one of our last posts on the FL-13 debacle - we hope anyway - but we will standby until Christine Jennings stands down.