With Final Recount Done, GOP’s Senate Majority Crystallizes

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Republican candidate has prevailed in a St. Cloud-area Senate seat recount, sealing Republicans' control of the Senate next year.

Jerry Relph entered the recount with a 148-vote edge over Democratic candidate Dan Wolgamott. That race was one of two Senate elections inside the margin that triggered a state-funded recount.

Three days of hand counting ballots ending Wednesday showed Relph retained his lead, pending a review by the state canvassing board next week. A recount in Plymouth last month also gave the GOP candidate the edge.

Wolgamott did gain an additional seven votes in the recounts, bringing the final difference from 148 to 141 votes.

Relph says he's pleased with the results of the recount and thanks all of his supporters.

"I am extremely pleased by the results of the recount and thankful for the consistent support from supporters and the tireless work of the campaign volunteers. I also want to thank the auditors of Sherburne, Benton and Stearns County, as well as their recount staff. They ran a clean and efficient recount process. I look forward to turning to my work at the State Capital in St. Paul and fulfilling my promise to work towards common sense solutions on behalf of my constituents." -Relph

Those victories seal a one-seat majority to Republicans in the Senate. In all the GOP won eight districts from Democrats to take back control of the chamber.

Senate Republicans will join a House Republican majority and Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton at the negotiating table.