Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson has emerged as the official winner in his tight congressional race against Republican Mia Love.

Matheson declared victory on election night despite the two being separated by only a couple thousand votes. Tuesday marked the deadline for counties to certify their votes, and the results from Salt Lake County removed any doubt that Matheson won.

Love, the 36-year-old mayor of Saratoga Springs and daughter of Haitian immigrants, got millions of dollars from Republican groups and a coveted speaking slot at the Republican National Convention, where she became one of the party's faces of diversity.

Love would have become the first black woman elected to Congress as a Republican.