Republican Mills Drops Recount Request

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Republican Stewart Mills says he's dropping his request for a recount in Minnesota's 8th Congressional District.

Mills' announcement on Friday gives the northeastern Minnesota seat to incumbent Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan. Nolan beat Mills by roughly half a percentage point to win a third term in Congress.

His victory was slim but still outside the margin that would have triggered a state-funded recount. State officials estimated this week Mills would have to pay more than $100,000 in recount costs, plus his own legal expenses.

After initially agreeing to move ahead, Mills said Friday the cost and volunteer time was too much. He says he's donating some extra campaign funds to the Salvation Army.

It was Mills' second defeat. He also narrowly lost to Nolan in 2014.