NYC Board Of Elections: Rep. Charles Rangel Defeats Sen. Adriano Espaillat By 990 Votes

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — New York Rep. Charles Rangel apparently has sewed up his victory over his Democratic primary challenger by a margin of 990 votes.

After a ballot count that ended on Saturday, New York City Board of Elections spokeswoman Valerie Vazquez said that the 82-year-old congressman received 18,940 votes. State Sen. Adriano Espaillat won 17,950 votes in the June 26 primary.

The outcome was so close that Espaillat contested it. He charged in court that his supporters had been improperly turned away from polls.

About 2,000 absentee and affidavit ballots were counted, and Rangel's lead widened from 802 votes when the counting started on Thursday. For the latest result to become official, it must be certified in the coming days.

Either politician may still challenge the board's numbers.

The parties are due back in court on Wednesday.

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