A recount is likely in the race for an open state Assembly seat won by a local Republican by just 28 votes, a key Democratic lawmaker said today.

Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, who headed up Assembly Democrats' campaign efforts, said it was likely that Democrat Trish O'Neil of Columbus would ask for a recount in the closely fought race with Republican Keith Ripp of Lodi.

O'Neil and her campaign workers could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

But Ripp said he also expected a recount.

"I believe with this close of a race it's almost automatic," Ripp said, adding he felt reasonably confident he would hold on to the seat. "Twenty-eight votes is still a pretty good margin for a recount but you never know."

Unofficial returns showed Ripp with 15,446 votes to O'Neil's 15,418 in the race to fill the seat vacated by Republican Eugene Hahn of Cambria.