Brian Nathan

Only two of the invited candidates for state Senate showed up at the forum Friday at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club. Monday, July 20, is the deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 18 primaries.

Voting officials on Friday determined that Nathan's margin of victory was just above the threshold needed to trigger an automatic recount.

Brian Nathan won a special election Tuesday for Senate District 14 in Hillsborough County against Republican state Rep. Josie Tomkow. The margin of victory was so thin that an automatic recount could be called on Friday.

His margin of victory was around 400 votes — hovering around the mark where an automatic recount could be called.

An automatic recount may be triggered in the special election in Hillsborough County. Democratic political newcomer Brian Nathan has a narrow lead over Republican Josie Tomkow.