Surgeon Dan Benishek leads state Sen. Jason Allen in the county-level canvassing process sorting out last week’s tight Republican primary results in Michigan’s 1st district.

With 16 of 31 counties certifying their results, Benishek is ahead by 18 votes, according to his campaign.

After the initial unofficial vote count, Benishek was just one vote ahead of Allen in the northern Michigan district currently represented by retiring Rep. Bart Stupak (D). The count: 27,091 to 27,090.

Once the counties certify the results, the state board of elections also will have to approve them. Then the campaigns will have 48 hours to ask for a recount before a nominee is chosen to face state Rep. Gary McDowell (D).