AP declares Pearce winner of GOP Senate primary

The Associated Press is declaring Steve Pearce the winner of the Republican U.S. Senate primary.

With 99 percent of precincts statewide reporting, Pearce has about 51 percent of the vote to Heather Wilson’s 49 percent, the news service is reporting. Pearce is leading by about 2,900 votes — 56,738 to 53,827.

Neither campaign could immediately be reached for comment. The AP announcement came at about 2 a.m.

Wilson didn’t concede the race and Pearce didn’t declare victory during speeches they gave late Tuesday. Wilson said she was encouraged by the results and said the race appeared to be a “dead heat,” according to an earlier Associated Press article.

Pearce, meanwhile, said he was “excited” because the polls “are strong coming in.” He described the election as a “horse race,” but said he was confident.