There was no shoo-in between the Republican candidates for state representative in the 11th district.

As of early Wednesday morning, incumbent Marci Mustello was in the lead.

The unofficial election returns for Tuesday night's primary initially showed Butler businessman and grassroots candidate Ryan Covert of Butler beating Mustello by just 103 votes.

But the thousands of mail-in and absentee ballots that have poured into the county election bureau in the past several weeks were added to the results at 12:10 a.m., and switched the lead to Mustello.

The total results were still close, with Mustello edging Covert 4,975 to 4,255.

However, not all mailed ballots were added to the totals Tuesday night and many more provisional ballots than usual were used in the primary for various reasons, including voters receiving mail-in ballots and going to the polls to vote instead, which could affect the race results.

The provisional ballots will be counted by elections bureau officials in the coming days.

Covert chose to celebrate the win that appeared online in the unofficial election returns, which did not include the mailed or provisional ballots.

“We worked really hard. We didn't take a day off,” said Covert Tuesday night. “No matter what we were faced with, rowdy crowds or a deadly virus, we stuck together and made smart decisions.”

Covert, who owns two restaurants in Butler, was humbled after the polls closed as he thought of all those who cast their votes for him.

“Thank you so much,” Covert said to his voters. “The kind words, the people who didn't know me, but could sense I was doing it for right reasons, thank you.”

Mustello, who won a special election in May 2019 to replace Brian Ellis after he resigned, was the first candidate ever endorsed by the county Republican Committee.

The 11th district includes Butler and Butler Township as well as Connoquenessing, Oakland, Summit, Jefferson, Fairview, Donegal and Clearfield townships and seven boroughs within those townships.

Covert beat Mustello in four of the six precincts in Butler, but Mustello took five of the seven precincts in Butler Township.

In Butler Township 5, Covert edged Mustello by just four votes, at 131 to 127 in the unofficial results.

Covert awaited the results Tuesday night at Snack-N-Pack, which he owns, with about 100 friends and campaigners.

He credited his earnest and energetic campaign with his success in the primary, although the totals were not immediately available.

“It was so much fun to get the chance to meet people and experience what this district is all about,” Covert said. “I'm really proud to be from here.”

Mustello did not answer calls for comment Tuesday night.