[JURIST] Republican Dino Rossi [campaign website] is challenging the 2004 election victory of Democratic Washington Governor Christine Gregoire [official website], the closest statewide election in history. Rossi, who won the first count by 261 votes and a machine recount by 42 votes, is alleging illegal votes were cast by felons and dead people. A final hand recount gave Gregoire the win by 129 votes [JURIST report] and sparked the legal challenge. Problems involving human error in hand counting votes are expected to be argued, similar to arguments made in the presidential election in Florida in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004. Polls show most citizens of Washington believe Rossi won the race but a majority did not want a new election. AP has more.