Recounts Confirm Republican Control of Minnesota Senate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (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.

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.