Chin holds narrow lead over challenger

The winner of Tuesday's Democratic primary for the District 1 city council seat is unclear as of Wednesday afternoon, with preliminary vote totals showing incumbent Council Member Margaret Chin holding a slim lead over challenger Christopher Marte.

Unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections show Chin with 5,220 votes to Marte's 5,020, with 98.84 percent of scanners reported. A representative of the Board of Elections said that official results will be finalized once absentee and military ballots are counted over the next week.

Chin, who is claiming victory, is seeking her third term representing the district, which includes much of downtown, Chinatown, and the Lower East Side. Marte, a Lower East Side native, is seeking public office for the first time.