BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A North Dakota House candidate who lost by 50 votes says she won’t ask for a recount.

Democrat Sharon Buhr finished third in the election in District 24 in southeastern North Dakota. The district includes Barnes County and parts of Cass and Ransom counties. Democrat Naomi Muscha and Republican Dwight Kiefert were the top two finishers and won the district’s two House seats. Buhr was 50 votes behind Kiefert.

Pre-Canvass:

Kiefert…. 3252 votes…26.09%

Buhr… 3197…25.65%

Post-Canvass

Kiefert…3262… 26.08%

Buhr… 3212…25.68%

The race was the only state legislative contest that was close enough to allow the loser to seek a recount. Today is the deadline to demand a recount, but Buhr says the result wasn’t close enough to justify one.

Buhr is a hospital dietitian in Valley City and a former city school board member. She says she enjoyed the House campaign. North Dakota’s Canvassing Board took less than an hour Friday to certify the final election results.　

The closest statewide race was for the U.S. Senate. Democrat Heidi Heitkamp beat Republican Rick Berg by 2,936 votes. Berg says he won’t ask for a recount.