Photo from barbarajpeters.com

Councilmember Marc Elrich (D-At Large) has an 80-vote lead over businessman David Blair in the primary race for the Democratic nomination for county executive, according to unofficial results posted by the Montgomery County Board of elections.

Following the tally of absentee and provisional ballots, which was finished yesterday, Elrich received 37,529 votes (29.02 percent) and Blair 37,449 (28.95 percent) out of the 129,337 votes cast in the county executive race.

In a tweet, Elrich wrote, “It is an honor to have been chosen by Montgomery County’s Democrats to represent the party in the general election. Thank you to everyone who helped make our grassroots victory possible.”

Former Rockville mayor and Planning Board official Rose Krasnow finished third with 19,644 votes (15.19 percent). Councilmember Roger Berliner (D-District 1) was fourth with 16,712 votes (12.92 percent), Councilmember George Leventhal (D-At Large) fifth (13,316 votes, 10.3 percent). State Del. Bill Frick (D-District 16) finished last, garnering 4,687 votes, or 3.62 percent.

The narrow result, which must be certified by the BOE on July 16, will almost certainly lead to a recount. The winner will face Republican Robin Ficker, who ran unopposed in his party’s primary, in the November general election.

However, four-term Councilmember Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) raised the possibility of a three-way race last Monday when she filed an “Intent to Declare Candidacy” to run for county executive as an independent.

Under state law, candidates had to file their intent by July 2. Also under the law, Floreen could not change her party affiliation until today (July 9).

Floreen, who served on the Planning Board before her election to the council, was term-limited out of her council seat and was an early supporter of Krasnow in the county executive primary.

In a statement following last week’s filing, Floreen wrote, “I would like to have waited for the ﬁnal count of ballots in the County Executive race . . . I will announce my ﬁnal decision on candidacy once all the primary votes for County Executive have been tabulated and certiﬁed.”