LANSING, Mich. (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden were locked in a tight race in battleground Michigan early Wednesday, with thousands of ballots yet to be tallied in a state whose 16 electoral votes may prove crucial.

Democrats were cautiously optimistic because at least 100,000 ballots had yet to be counted as of around noon, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — largely absentee ballots in predominantly Democratic cities, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint and Kalamazoo.

“These ballots were cast by tens of thousands of Michigan citizens who have the right to have their vote counted. We're going to make sure that right is protected," she said, asking for patience.

Nearly 5.2 million ballots had been counted, breaking the turnout record from 2008.

Trump was looking to again claim the state he narrowly won four years ago. Democratic nominees held the state for decades before Trump, and Biden was hoping to put Michigan back in the blue column.

The contest between first-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters and Republican challenger John James also was close and too early to call.

During Michigan campaign stops, Biden criticized Trump’s “reckless” handling of the coronavirus pandemic and pledged to address institutional racism and bring the country together if elected. Trump touted his economic record and warned that Biden would keep Michigan “locked up," though Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has lifted many restrictions.