U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel apparently has sewed up his victory over his Democratic primary challenger on Saturday with a margin of 990 votes.

After a ballot count that started days ago, New York City Board of Elections spokeswoman Valerie Vazquez said the 82-year-old congressman received 18,940 votes. State Sen. Adriano Espaillat got 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 at the board’s lower Manhattan offices. Rangel’s lead widened from 802 votes when the tallying started Thursday.

For the latest result to become official, it must be certified by board commissioners, likely by Tuesday, said Tim Gay, the board’s deputy chief clerk.

Either politician may still challenge the board’s numbers.

Rangel, a powerful New York politician who had survived many challenges to his longtime congressional tenure, is running for his 22nd term.

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