NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) — City Councilman Ras Baraka declared victory Tuesday evening in the race for Newark mayor.

Around 9:15 p.m., Baraka declared on his website: “Victory is ours!! We are the mayor.” He also issued several tweets declaring victory.

He later went on to address his supporters.

“It’s never been about me. It’s always been about we,” Baraka said as he claimed victory before a standing-room-only crowd of thousands at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark.

He pledged to take all the residents of Newark with him straight to the mayor’s office, 1010 WINS’ Derricke Dennis reported.

“We have to be the mayor that cares for all of the people. We have to be the mayor that makes sure that we fights for all of the people; that keeps our schools open and makes sure they’re good,” Baraka said.

Baraka won 53 percent to 46 percent over former state Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries, Dennis reported.

There was no immediate comment from Baraka’s challenger, former state Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries.