SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Chol Majok, a former refugee and “Lost Boy” of South Sudan, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary for the 3rd District Common Council seat with all the election night votes counted.

Majok defeated Bryn Lovejoy-Grinnell, who was appointed to the council earlier this year, and Emad Rahim, a professor and author.

With all districts reporting, Majok led with 591 votes, compared to 513 for Lovejoy-Grinnell and 428 for Rahim.

Up to 172 absentee ballots remain to be counted. Those ballots would need to swing overwhelmingly in Lovejoy-Grinnell’s favor, or go almost entirely to Rahim, to change the outcome.

Majok, 34, would be the first former refugee ever elected to the council if he wins the general election in November. The 3rd district is made up of mostly Democratic voters.

There is no Republican opponent in the race. Rahim will be on the ballot with the Independence and Working Families Parties.

Majok came to the United States from South Sudan as a young boy. His journey, and that of thousands of other Sudanese refugees, was captured in a series of documentaries, in which they were dubbed the “Lost Boys.”

In 2013, he landed a job at City Hall with then Mayor Stephanie Miner. He rose through her administration to become director of constituent services.

In an interview last week, Majok said holding public office has been a lifelong calling.

“In 10th grade my guidance counselor approached me and said, 'What do you want to do?,” he said. "I wanted to be an elected official, to be in a place to affect change.”

Majok lives in Elmwood with his wife and five children.

The 3rd council district covers the south end and southwest corner of Syracuse, including Strathmore, the Valley and Elmwood.

Susan Boyle vacated the seat earlier this year when she took a job with Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon. Democrats on the council installed Lovejoy-Grinnell to fill the seat after the party endorsed her at its annual designation meeting.

Mayor Ben Walsh lives in the district and endorsed Rahim in the race.

The council position pays $21,224 a year. The term is for two years.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 5.