Photo from barbarajpeters.com

A partial recount of ballots in the Democratic primary last night confirmed Councilmember Marc Elrich’s (D-At Large) victory over David Blair for the county executive nomination.

The final tally was 37,532 for Elrich (29.02 percent) and 37,455 for Blair (28.96 percent) a margin of 77 votes.

Last week, after the county’s Board of Elections had certified a 79-vote lead for Elrich, Blair requested a recount of both rounds of absentee ballots, provisional ballots, all ballots cast at an early-voting center in Potomac, and precinct 02-06, located at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg, which the candidate paid for.

“Earlier this evening, I spoke with David Blair who congratulated me,” Elrich wrote on his Facebook page last night. “He was gracious, and he and I discussed how to work together going forward.

“After we take a moment to celebrate,” Elrich’s post continued, “we will turn our attention to the general election where I am eager to continue our conversations about how to build on what is great about our county and find real solutions where they are needed. We are going to build a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient county, and the place we all call home is going to be the best place that it can be.”

Elrich will face Republican Robin Ficker and a possible independent challenge from Councilmember Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) in November. Floreen must first gather about 7,200 signatures on a nominating petition by Aug. 6 to be eligible.