Judge rules against 3 GOP candidates who challenged election

A judge has ruled against three anti-tax Republican Nevada Assembly candidates who lost their primaries but contested the results.
   
Judge Michelle Leavitt's decision on Monday effectively dismisses the legal challenges brought by Diana Orrock, Mary Rooney and Blain Jones. They raised concerns that voting machines may have malfunctioned, and wanted to conduct an audit of the results.
   
County election officials have said there were no malfunctions.
   
Republican election lawyer Daniel Stewart represented the three winning candidates: David Gardner, Nick Phillips and Derek Armstrong.
   
Stewart said the hearing lasted about eight hours, and included testimony from political consultant Tony Dane, who argued that the election results differed widely from his exit polling.
   
Jones said it was disconcerting that their audit request was denied. He said it's not clear whether they'll appeal.