In Oregon, where ballots are mailed in, the Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith and Democrat Jeff Merkley remained within a percentage point with 73 percent of precincts reporting. Adding to the mix is Constitution Party candidate Dave Brownlow with 5 percent.
In Georgia, Republican Saxby Chambliss, now faces a Dec. 2 run-off election with Democratic challenger Jim Martin. In Georgia, a candidate must win over 50 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off.
According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s unofficial results, Chambliss won 49.9 percent of the vote.
A run-off would be between Chambliss and Martin, and not include Libertarian candidate Allen Buckley who won 3.5 percent of the vote.
But the closest race may be in Minnesota, where another Republican incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman leads by 475 votes, a slim-enough lead to trigger a recount that is mandatory under state law if a race the margin is less than half of 1 percent.
According to unofficial results on the Secretary of State’s Office, Coleman has 41.99 percent of the vote to Franken’s 41.98 percent with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley won 15.16 percent.
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said a recount would begin in mid-November and may continue into December, according to the Associated Press.
Coleman claimed victory, but on Wednesday, Franken said the race was too close to call and that he would demand a recount.