More than a month after the Nov. 7 election, Jean Stothert has conceded defeat in her bid for the District 12 legislative seat.

Stothert said Thursday that she has decided not to contest the results of the election. She and Steve Lathrop were separated by only 14 votes after a recount last week.

She called him Thursday morning to concede. The District 12 race was one of the most expensive and hotly contested in the state. The district includes Ralston and southwest Omaha.

Stothert had until Thursday, 40 days after the election, to decide whether to contest the results. If she had contested, the winner would have been determined by the Legislature.

"I just don't feel like (contesting) is the best thing for the voters and the district," Stothert said.

Stothert said she and her legal advisers believe she had a strong legal case to challenge the results. She said that 34 provisional ballots that should have been thrown out were included in the vote count. Those ballots had invalid addresses, she said.

Determining which ballots had legitimate addresses would have been a long and arduous process that could involve deposing those who cast provisional ballots.

"Legally, we could request that, but I respect people's right to vote confidentially," Stothert said.

She said the confusion in her race highlights flaws in the provisional ballot system that should be corrected by the Legislature.

Stothert said she will continue to serve on the Millard school board.