Republican Rep. Brad Finstad calls for recount in 1st Congressional District in tight race

Unofficial results from Tuesday show Finstad trailing Democratic challenger Jake Johnson by just 321 votes.

The race is close enough to qualify for a publicly funded recount under state law, which has to be requested by the losing candidate within 48 hours of the canvassing board meeting. The State Canvassing Board meets to officially certify the election results on November 19.

In a statement released Thursday, Finstad's campaign said it would work to ensure the full process established by federal and state law would be followed to accurately county every vote.

“We will work to ensure that the full process established under state and federal law is followed, so that every vote is counted in an accurate and transparent manner as we move toward a final determination of the results,” added Finstad in a statement.

Johnson's campaign responded Thursday night, saying they had no doubt who won the election, and criticized Finstad for suggesting a recount take place utilizing taxpayer dollars.

"All precincts have reported and counted their legal votes, and Jake is up by over 300 votes," wrong Nik Marda, Johnson's campaign manager. "No U.S. House recount in over 40 years has resulted in a change that large to the vote totals. We have no doubt the Jake has wont this election, and we are confident that Jake will be seated as the next representative from southern Minnesota."

If the results hold, Johnson's victory over the incumbent Finstad is yet another flip of a House seat from red to blue. Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with many surprising places in between, in a decisive rejection of unified GOP control.

Their majorities will be padded by unusually wide margins in both the House and the Senate after the GOP controlled both bodies over the last two years.

A number of races across the country are still too close to call, but Democrats will hold at least 253 seats according to Associated Press tallies. 218 is needed for a majority, a significant flip of power in the U.S. House. The Senate will also be in Democrat control, with at least 54 seats in that 100-seat body.