What in the world … ?

Apparently, to use Dave Wasserman‘s phrase, Adam Frisch has seen enough — even though the state of Colorado by statute has not. While his challenge to Lauren Boebert for the CO-3 race will have to undergo a mandatory recount, Frisch has decided to throw in the towel. He conceded to Boebert a few minutes ago:

“The voters have spoken and while we showed great progress, I remain down by a few hundred votes. This small margin triggers an automatic recount in Colorado’s election system. This recount is what Colorado voters have asked for in order to maintain trust in the election system and it is likely that the Secretary of State will mandate this recount in the coming weeks,” Frisch said.

Frisch explained that he is not asking for the recount. “We are not asking for this recount, it is one our citizens of Colorado mandate through our election system. We believe in the integrity of our elections in the great state of Colorado and are supportive of this recount to ensure continued faith in the security of our elections.”

“The likelihood of this recount changing more than a handful of votes is very very small. It would be disingenuous and unethical of us or any other group to continue to raise false hope and encourage fundraising for a recount. Colorado elections are safe, accurate and secure. Please save your money for your groceries, your rent, your children and other important causes and organizations,” Frisch said.

“I just got off the phone with Representative Boebert to formally concede this election,” Frisch shared.

That’s either extraordinarily gracious, extraordinarily foolish, or both. It’s clearly the former at a minimum, of course. Frisch doesn’t have to concede — no candidate has to concede, in fact — and had every reason to hold off on this announcement until after the recount. Even though Frisch is correct that recounts don’t usually dent leads of 500+ votes, they do sometimes change the totals enough to challenge the results and get ballot-by-ballot inspections. (As a Minnesotan, I’ve seen that process change an election result by over 500 votes, albeit in a state-wide race.)

Frisch clearly doesn’t want to go down that road. Good for him, but I hope Frisch isn’t expecting accolades from fellow Democrats on that point. He came close to unseating Boebert in a heavily GOP district and a tough midterm cycle for Democrats, and they may want him back, as Courtney Milan demands:

Adam’s 0.16% loss to Boebert, in a district that was drawn to be +9 and +10 GOP, has already made a difference. It’s shown that people are tired of politicians who lack substance and whose main goal is self promotion to draw outraged views.

— Courtney Milan 🦖 (@courtneymilan) November 18, 2022

I think the lack of fight at the end will hurt Frisch among party activists, however, even if the gesture endears him to CO-3 voters.

However, that is about all this is, too — a gesture. Concessions hold no legal status. The only thing that matters is the final certified result. If the recount does shift the race back to Frisch, he will still win the seat. Apart from the clear signal that he won’t challenge the results, a concession is essentially just a gesture.

Boebert’s taking it as a conclusion, understandably:

Adam Frisch called me to concede this race.

I look forward to getting past election season and focusing on conservative governance in the House majority.

Time to get to work!

— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) November 18, 2022

Update: My pal Kelly Maher explains:

Recounts here don't generally change numbers by two digits, much less three. He knows there's no chance.

— Kelly Maher (@okmaher) November 18, 2022

Yeah, but Democrats at least have options in a recount and challenge. And normally they’re not shy about exercising them.