AUGUSTA (WGME) -- Democratic Representative Jared Golden won re-election in Maine's Second District after a ranked choice tabulation on Friday.

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A week and a half after the election, and several days since the ranked-choice process began, Golden was able to hold off Republican challenger Austin Theriault.

Election officials had been working through a ranked choice runoff process for days.

More than 300,000 Maine voters cast a ballot in the Second District race.

Golden led by just over 2,100 votes after the election, but there were thousands of ballots with no first choice marked, leading Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows to call for a ranked-choice tabulation to determine if those voters marked anyone as their second choice.

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Once the ranked choice tabulation was run, Golden came out ahead 50.35% - 49.65%.

His campaign issued a statement shortly after the results were final.

“Last week, I congratulated my opponent for being a fierce challenger and for his serious, well-run campaign. But today’s result reaffirms what we have known for more than a week: The people have chosen me to continue as their representative for another term in Congress. I am grateful for their confidence.

State Rep. Austin Theriault is within his rights to force a third accounting of ballots with a taxpayer-funded recount, but the votes have been counted twice now and my lead has been in the thousands of votes both times.

I am moving forward with my work in Congress, where I will continue to work with anyone — Democrats, Republicans and independents — to lower Mainers’ costs, protect our freedoms and our way of life, and ensure our safety and prosperity.”

The Theriault campaign says it will ask for a recount.

"With the race for Maine's Second Congressional District remaining the closest federal race in modern Maine history following the allocation of ranked choice votes, we are renewing our call for a state-funded automatic recount of the results," Theriault Campaign Manager Shawn Roderick said. "Every Mainer's voice should be heard and their vote counted in this historically close race and we have seen several anomalies that can only be rectified with a full recount. We appreciate everyone's patience and support as we work to ensure every vote is counted."