Schimel: Kaul appears to have won (UPDATE)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democrat Josh Kaul is declaring himself Wisconsin’s next attorney general even though his race with Republican incumbent Brad Schimel remains too close to call.

Unofficial results Wednesday morning showed Kaul leading by almost 23,000 votes, or less than 1 percentage point, with the unofficial vote nearly complete.

Schimel said in a statement that it “appears” Kaul has won, but he will wait for the official canvass.

Kaul called himself the attorney general in a brief appearance outside the Dane County courthouse Wednesday morning. He thanked his family and supporters and promised to work to expand Medicare coverage and withdraw the state from a federal lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act.