Margaret Chin Maintains Razor-Thin Lead In District 1 Primary

LOWER EAST SIDE, NY — Incumbent Margaret Chin has maintained her narrow lead in this month's tight race for the District 1 Democratic primary, according to tallies of absentee and affidavit ballots.

The two-term City Council Member netted just 200 more votes than her main opponent, newcomer Christopher Marte, on election night. After the city's Board of Elections counted absentee and affidavit ballots, Chin's narrow-thin lead barely widened to 207 more votes than Marte, according to Marte's campaign. Chin's campaign disputes this figure, and says she has a lead of 224 votes. A spokeswoman for the city's Board of Elections did not immediately respond to an email or a phone call from Patch seeking more information.

"The final count, according to hand tallies from the campaign, resulted in a 207 vote lead by Chin," Marte's campaign said in a statement. "Christopher Marte and his team received broad support from affidavit voters, due to the abrupt poll site changes in his home neighborhood and the Two Bridges area. However absentee ballots, largely cast from nursing homes, went to Chin. This narrow margin still indicates the widespread dissatisfaction with the two-term Councilmember."

"After a campaign in which Christopher Marte painfully distorted the truth, spread lies about Councilwoman Chin, misled the electorate about endorsements and intimidated voters on Primary Day, Councilwoman Chin’s lead still managed to increase to 224 votes," Chin's campaign said in response. "Her victory is not hers alone. It is a victory for all New Yorkers who want a more livable, affordable city."

Chin has already claimed victory in the Democratic primary, although the Board of Elections has yet to certify the results and Marte has not yet conceded.

This story has been updated with comment from Chin's campaign.

Lead image credit: Slaven Vlasic / Stringer / Getty Images Entertainment