Democrat Kate Cloonen declared victory Tuesday in what may be one of the tightest elections in Illinois, after the unofficial count across the three counties of the 79th State House District put her up by 148 votes over Republican candidate Glenn Nixon.

More than 42,000 people essentially split in half in Kankakee, Grundy, and Will counties, and Nixon said he would request a recount.

Still, absentee and provisional ballots can change the outcome and it could be another two weeks before an official tally is declared.

"It is so extremely close we have to go through a recount," Nixon said. "As soon as we know we'll let you know. It may take a day, it may take two days."

"We were outspent four to one," said Cloonen, who took in 21,224 votes, beating Nixon so far in Kankakee and Grundy counties. "I walked door to door and I think that was the difference."

Nixon, a Kankakee County Board member, was the Republican party's chance to take control of a seat long held by Democrats, most recently state Rep. Lisa Dugan, D-Bradley. Statewide party leaders took notice, dumped nearly $400,000 in the race and made a last-minute pit stop in Kankakee County.

Democrats spent considerably less but still fought hard to retain control of what had been a sure-bet seat.

The next General Assembly will take on pension reform, new changes to health care laws and, of course, the state's tax increases.

Much is at stake.

Still, Cloonen has vowed to repeal the income tax hike and let the corporate tax increase expire.

"This district is a conservative district, and that's how I will approach representing it," Cloonen said.

Both sides eyed the race closely on Tuesday.

At the Kankakee Federation of Labor headquarters, Democrats kept a careful eye as results from Grundy County, with strong Democratic precincts, were coming in.

And at the Fieldhouse on Heritage Grille & Pub in Bourbonnais, where Nixon watched the results come in with supporters and fellow Republican candidates, the crowd talked about the race all night.

But when the results were in, their man was down.

Nixon assured his supporters then turned to his wife.

"It's not over yet," he said.

Nicole Leonhardt contributed to this report