Lynneice Washington is set to become the first African American woman to be elected as a district attorney in Alabama after a Thursday recount of votes in last month's Bessemer Cutoff D.A. election.

Washington, a Democrat, got 36,744 votes, or 50.18 percent, and Republican Bill Veitch, who currently holds the district attorney's job, got 36,445 votes, or 49.77 percent, according to Jefferson County Probate Judge Alan King.

Veitch, who was appointed the cutoff district attorney earlier this year after the retirement of Arthur Green Jr., has 20 days in which to contest the election.

A recount in the district attorneys race in the cutoff was placed into an automatic recount because less than half of one percentage point of votes separated Washington and Veitch after the Nov. 8 general election.

The recount began about 7 a.m. and ended about 9 p.m. Thursday, King said.

Veitch on Friday issued this statement:

"I congratulate Lynniece on her victory and offer my assistance in a smooth transition.

I want to thank my family, friends, and all my supporters, some of whom stood in line at Hunter Street Baptist for over three (3) hours to vote. I will never forget your kindness.

It has been a great honor to serve the people of the Bessemer Cutoff as your District Attorney. I am looking forward to new opportunities to serve in whatever capacity may present itself.

My family (both Jill and I) are generational Cutoff Residents. Our great, great

grandparents, grand parents and parents have lived here, attended school and church here, worked and been buried here. This our home. Things change, but family and friends endure, and in that regard, I'm an absolute winner!"

Washington, who is now presiding Bessemer Municipal Court judge, said she was happy and felt honored after the 14-hour recount that saw her lead grow from the Nov. 8 election results that had her leading by only 223 votes the night of the election. After canvassing the following week with provisional and overseas and military absentee ballots there was a 284 difference in the race.

It's a 299-vote lead for Washington after Thursday's recount.

"I feel honored that the people in the Bessemer Cutoff had enough confidence in me to be the chief law enforcement officer in the cutoff," Washington said.

"This is a historic moment," Washington added, recognizing she is set to become the first African American woman to become a district attorney in Alabama.

This story was updated at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, 2016 to note that after the initial vote count on election day, Washington's lead widened with provisional and overseas absentee ballots before the recount.