Democrat Heitkamp wins Senate race in North Dakota

By Associated Press

Nov 7, 2012 1:07 PM CST

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Democrat Heitkamp wins Senate race in North Dakota — Flanked by family members, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., looks up as she talks about her mother, Betty Anne McCaskill, who recently passed away, while declaring victory over challenger Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., in the Missouri Senate race Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) (Associated Press)

Democratic candidate Heidi Heitkamp has won the U.S. Senate race in North Dakota, defeating favored Republican congressman Rick Berg.

Berg had been expected to win the race, and Republicans had counted on his victory in their failed attempt to take control of the Senate.

Heitkamp won the race by fewer than 3,000 votes, and Berg could have asked for a recount.

He conceded the race Wednesday with a qualifier: He was stepping aside barring any unforeseen circumstances with the state canvasing board that certifies the race results.

That canvasing process is to begin Friday. It will account for late-arriving absentee ballots that were postmarked in time to be counted in the election.

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