DETROIT, MI -- Democrat David Curson has claimed victory over Republican Kerry Bentivolio in the race to fill former U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter's seat in Congress after the Wayne and Oakland county clerks have completed reporting unofficial results.

Those results show Curson winning by more than 7,500 votes, but

by 156 votes.

"The unofficial numbers are

finally in and we have won the Partial Seat," Curson wrote on his campaign Facebook page. "Thanks everyone."



Bentivolio earlier had celebrated victory in both his

in the newly redrawn 11th District, and against Curson for the two-month partial term representing the old district.

He

the win against Curson would give him a head start and seniority over other rookie members of Congress.

The 11th District seat was vacated when U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter resigned in July amid a

scandal, leaving the door open for relative unknowns to battle for the seat and the fringe benefits that could come with it.

Bentivolio soundly defeated Taj in the newly redrawn district, and defeated Curson in Oakland County portions of the old district by all accounts. But Wayne County Clerk results show Curson on top by more than 26,000 there.

Follow Khalil AlHajal on Twitter @DetroitKhalil or on Facebook at Khalil MLive. He can be reached at kalhajal@mlive.com or 313-643-0527.