Election officials finished re-tallying votes in the House District 8B race on Thursday, finding one additional vote for Rep. Mary Franson in the process and widening her lead over Democratic candidate Bob Cunniff to 12 votes. Cunniff conceded the race to Franson late Thursday afternoon. The State Canvasing Board will meet on Dec. 4 to certify the results.

The State Canvassing Board on Tuesday met and unanimously approved the Nov. 6 election results, with the exception of the House District 8B race and the Senate District 20 race. The margin between candidates in both races was less than one half of 1 percent, the margin needed to trigger an automatic recount. Both recounts are expected to be completed by Friday.

At least two close races for the Minnesota Legislature -- Senate District 20 and House District 8B -- appear to fall within the half percent margin required to trigger an automatic recount.

It was one of the first questions a voter asked of two suburban Minnesota House candidates at a recent forum: How were they planning to vote on the two proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall?

The campaign finance reports released last week show that political action committees large and small have been funneling lots of money into legislative races.

House and Senate races across the state are rapidly shaking out after the release of the 2012 legislative map last month. And with local endorsing conventions set to take place throughout March, incumbents and challengers alike have little time to make decisions about their political futures.

House and Senate races across the state are rapidly shaking out following the release of new legislative maps.