Why AP called the Michigan Senate race for Elissa Slotkin

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin won Michigan's razor's-edge race for U.S. Senate, defeating former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in a battle of attrition. In the end, Slotkin carried the state after there were not enough ballots left to be counted for Rogers to overtake her roughly 18,000-vote lead when The Associated Press called the race at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday.

The outcome was a reversal of fortune for Rogers, who jumped out to a significant early lead that continued into Wednesday's early hours. But population-dense Democratic strongholds, including Wayne County, home to Detroit, still had large amounts of ballots to count. And as Wednesday wore on, Slotkin improved her standing by winning many of the subsequent updates as election officials continued to tabulate the vote and release new numbers.

Though the race is tight, Rogers would need to collect over 64 percent of the remaining vote to overtake Slotkin's lead. His campaign has not said whether he will request a recount, which he is allowed to do under Michigan law.

Slotkin joined Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin in holding two “blue wall” Senate seats for Democrats in states that Trump won.