ST. PAUL (AP) — The Minnesota recount playing field is down to fewer than a dozen counties.

Most of the state’s 87 counties have wrapped up manual review of ballots cast in the race for governor. Several big counties encompassing and surrounding the Twin Cities have yet to finish and a handful in greater Minnesota are still at work.

Democrat Mark Dayton is down 38 votes and Republican Tom Emmer has lost one compared to Nov. 2 totals for the same precincts. But the numbers are skewed because of heavy challenges.

Once the recount is complete, the state Canvassing Board will go over challenged ballots. There are 740 and counting the board could be asked to rule on if the campaigns don’t withdraw them sooner.

Emmer made four times as many challenges as Dayton, 597 ballots to Dayton’s 143.

“This is a very steep mountain for Tom Emmer to climb, and it’s becoming more steep by the day,” said Dayton recount team director Ken Martin.