Election-2013RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ The Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general has maintained his thin lead over the Republican hopeful after the state certified the Nov. 5 ballot.

The State Board of Elections in Richmond completed its certification Monday, showing Mark Herring with a 165-vote edge over the GOP’s Mark Obenshain.

Herring held a 165-vote edge over Obenshain before the certification. Obenshain has 10 days to decide whether he’ll seek a recount.

Both men have dug in, with each announcing transition teams. Virginia has no automatic recount, but the trailing candidate can seek a recount at taxpayer expense if the margin between winner and loser is less than one-half of 1 percent.

Both men are seeking to succeed Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who failed in his Republican bid for governor.