NEW YORK — Ahead by a few hundred votes, Brooklyn City Councilman Justin Brannan declared victory on Tuesday, securing another term in the Council in one of the closest races in the city.

"We are declaring victory and we're proud of that," Brannan told NY1 on Tuesday. "We're humbled that the voters have sent us back to City Hall to fight for them."

Absentee ballots put Brannan over the top in his reelection bid, ending an unexpectedly close race with Republican challenger Brian Fox.

"I know what it takes to win, I know what it takes to fight against adversity. I know what it takes to deliver for your constiutents and ultimetley that's the job," Brannan said on "Mornings On 1" Wednesday.

While Fox narrowly led Brannan on election night earlier this month, Brannan’s opponent in the District 43 race conceded Tuesday afternoon, one day after absentee ballot counting began across the five boroughs.

"I want to thank the thousands of Brooklyn voters — of all parties — who supported my crime-fighting bid for New York City Council,” Fox said in a statement. “Although we came up short in the end, we managed to come within one percentage point of victory, something none of the so-called experts predicted.”

Fox's pro-police, anti-crime campaign made it a surprisingly tough race for Brannan. In a statement, Fox said he came up short, but alluded to a return to politics in the future.

"And as far as Brian Fox and the Republican movement in Brooklyn is concerned, we're just getting started," the statement read.

By Tuesday afternoon, Brannan, whose district covers parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bath Beach and Bensonhurst, took to Twitter declare victory and to call for unity.

“I am so incredibly honored to have been re-elected to another term as your Council Member. It doesn't matter if you voted for me or not. The race is over and it's time to come together and get back to work!” Brannan tweeted.

Brannan is also running for council speaker and it’s unclear how this squeaker of a race will affect his bid. Immediately after securing his reelection victory, he was turning to the other race.

"I think it shows I know how to fight for every vote,” Brannan said in his interview with NY1. “I think it shows I can win in a district where being a Democrat doesn't guarantee your election."

While absentee and affidavit ballots were still being counted across the city, other candidates also declared victory.

Democrat Ari Kagan, running to represent southern Brooklyn and Coney Island in District 47, was celebrating as well.

"I came to America less than 30 years ago with no English, no money, only high hopes and dreams,” Kagan said. “And now I am going to be a New York City councilman, which is hard to believe, but that's what’s happening, and I am living the American dream."

His Republican opponent, Mark Szuszkiewicz, conceded the race and congratulated him for a clean fight.

In Council District 19 in Queens, Republican Vickie Paladino’s campaign released a statement declaring victory against Democrat Tony Avella, who was trying to return to his old Council seat.

In a statement, her campaign said, “After two long days at Board of Elections overseeing the absentee ballot tally, we can confirm that our election night victory will stand, and Vickie Paladino will be the next councilmember to represent the people of District 19 on the city council."

Paladino raised eyebrows last year, when a video emerged of a Republican club's Christmas party, where attendees flouted COVID-19 restrictions and danced maskless.

Avella told NY1 he was not conceding because he had not seen the final numbers.

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Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled Mark Szuszkiewicz's last name as Szuzkiewicz.

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