Democrat Linda Newell appears to have won the closely contested state Senate District 26 race, Senate Minority Caucus Leader Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) told the Rocky Mountain News on Wednesday.

But some say Kopp called the race too soon, as an automatic recount might be triggered.

With all provisional ballots counted, Newell holds a 191-vote lead over her Republican opponent Lauri Clapp, the News reported.

While officials are still determining whether Newell's lead is small enough to trigger an automatic recount, Senate Minority Caucus Leader Mike Kopp (R-Littleton) told the News that Clapp is expected to concede the race in the next day or so, Kopp said.

Newell will likely win even if a recount is conducted, Kopp said to the News. Under the law, a recount must be conducted if the vote difference between candidates is less than 0.5 percent of the total number of votes cast.

"You have to give credit to the Democrats for a very successful effort in that district in particular," Kopp said, according to the News. "Our candidates faced a nearly overwhelming head wind."

But Colorado Senate spokesman Joe Megysey said Kopp may have spoken "prematurely," as a recount seems likely to take place.

Newell's win would preserve the Democrats' 20-15 edge in the Colorado Senate. Newell has already been assigned to the Judiciary and Health, Local Government and Energy, and Health and Human Services Committees.