The Hill News

A new vote count in Wisconsin's closely watched Supreme Court race shows Justice David Prosser with a slim 40-vote lead over his challenger, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg.

The unofficial count would reverse Wednesday's results, which showed the liberal-backed Kloppenburg leading the conservative-backed Prosser by 204 votes. Kloppenburg has gone so far as to declare victory following the final Associated Press count on Wednesday.

A discrepancy was found between Winnebago County's latest figures and those reported by the AP. The county's numbers show Prosser leading Kloppenburg 20,701-18,887, while the AP shows him leading her 19,991-18,421, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

The new figures are unofficial, but if they are upheld, it would represent a major reversal in the race, which has gained national attention.

Many consider it the first statewide referendum on GOP Gov. Scott Walker's controversial new union law, which curbs collective bargaining rights for unionized state employees. 

In any case, the election is likely to head to a recount. County officials are still in the process of certifying Tuesday's results.