Rangel challenger not conceding race

Though Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) holds a slim lead over primary challenger Adriano Espaillat, the New York state senator is not yet conceding the race.

{mosads}With 99 percent of precincts reporting in the Democratic primary, Rangel took 47 percent of the vote and Espaillat took 44 percent, a difference of about 1,800 votes. Pastor Michael Walrond and activist Yolanda Garcia took third and fourth, respectively.

But the Associated Press has yet to call the race, and Espaillat is holding out, he said in a statement, for a “complete and accurate tally.”

“As we learned in 2012, every single vote needs to be counted in this race. Given the thousands of votes outstanding, the people of Upper Manhattan and The Bronx deserve a full accounting of every vote to achieve a complete and accurate tally in this race,” Espaillat said.

Espaillat, a state senator, lost to Rangel by just 1,000 votes during their first matchup in 2012. Rangel was seen as potentially more vulnerable this time around, but polling showed Rangel expanding his lead just days out from the primary.