MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The balance of power at the Minnesota Legislature appeared to be headed toward the status quo on Wednesday, with Republicans likely to hang on their slim majority in the Senate and Democrats poised to keep a diminished majority in the House.

Several races in both chambers were yet to be called, and at least three House races were close enough to trigger automatic recounts if the trailing candidate requests them. Election officials still planned to count ballots that arrive by next Tuesday as long as they were postmarked by Election Day, which means some races might not be settled until then.

Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman said she's confident that her party has kept its House majority.

Democrats had mounted a major push to take control of the Senate. Coupled with continued Democratic control of the House and the governor's office, that would have given Democrats power over how Minnesota deals with a projected $4.7 billion budget deficit and the redrawing of congressional and legislative district maps.

But the legislative results indicate that Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, House Democrats and Senate Republicans must continue to forge difficult compromises on budget and policy issues. And if history is a guide, redistricting will probably fall to the courts.