Jennifer Meinhardt told WisPolitics.com that she’s looking at a recount after unofficial returns showed her narrowly trailing fellow Republican William Penterman in the eight-way GOP primary for the 37th AD.

“That’s really all we’re thinking about right now over here,” she told WisPolitics.com.

According to a WisPolitics.com tally of unofficial results from county clerks’ websites, Penterman, a former legislative aide, had 758 votes. Meinhardt, an associate professor at Maranatha Baptist University, was at 742 votes.

Penterman, 25, is the youngest candidate in the race. The Columbus resident currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserve and previously worked as an aide to Rep. Ron Tusler, R-Harrison.

Penterman didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Nick Krueger, who lives in Watertown and is a legislative aide to GOP Rep. Terry Katsma, was a distant third at 621 votes, according to the WisPolitics.com tally.

If Penterman’s lead holds up, he would advance to the July 13 general election against Dem Pete Adams, who lost his reelection bid for the Columbus City Council this spring, and independent Stephen Ratzlaff Jr.

The winner of the July 13 election will replace Republican John Jagler, who won an April special election for an open state Senate seat. Former President Donald Trump won 54.4 percent of the vote in the 37th AD in November.

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