Republican Phill Kline today declared himself the winner of the attorney general’s race with all votes counted showing him with a lead of 412,686 to 408,390 for Democrat Chris Biggs.

“I’m humbled by the victory,” said Kline, a former state legislator from Shawnee.

The 4,296-vote difference, or 0.523 percent difference was slightly more than 0.5 percent difference needed to have allowed a state-paid recount.

Biggs of Junction City had scheduled a news conference for later in the day at the Capitol to announce his intentions.

The race had been in limbo since the Nov. 5 election when the candidates were close with more than 15,000 provisional ballots having yet been counted. Provisional ballots are cast when poll workers aren’t sure whether a person is eligible to vote.

But after the count, Kline remained ahead.

Today, Kline held a news conference outside the Capitol, saying, “I do stand as attorney general-elect.”

Kline named a transitional team led by Dickinson County Attorney Eric Rucker and former attorney general Robert Stephan as a special advisor.

Another core member of the team includes Stephen McAllister, dean of the Kansas University Law School. Kline said McAllister has agreed to continue serving as state solicitor, which helps the attorney general’s office prepare for appellate court cases.