The Republican Party establishment scored a big win in Tuesday’s election, but the vote was so close that victory wasn’t assured until almost 24 hours after the polls closed.

Former state Attorney General Kelly Ayotte was declared the winner of the Republican Senate nomination over tea party favorite Ovide Lamontagne with a margin of victory of just over 1,600 votes out of more than 100,000 cast.

But the win wasn’t sealed until Lamontagne conceded Wednesday evening, choosing not to request a recount in the race.

The slim margin of victory was enough to beat back a late surge from Lamontagne and give the Republican establishment and National Republican Senatorial Committee its preferred candidate in the general election matchup against Rep. Paul Hodes (D).

Ayotte, 42, becomes the early favorite in the November contest.