Master of Discovery Will Hartnett (R-Dallas) ruled today that Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) won her District 48 seat in the Texas House fair and square.
Hartnett declined to recommend a special election as requested by Republican challenger Dan Neil, ruling instead that Howard had won the heavily disputed contest by 4 votes.
Hartnett's ruling is nonbinding, however: the Howard/Neil case will now be heard by a House committee and may eventually be voted on by the House itself.
Members could still order a special election or choose which representative to seat.