By Patrick McGroarty
News Editor

(Boston, MA)- State Senator Dianne Wilkerson appears to have secured a victory in the Second Suffolk Democratic Primary after the latest chapter in what has been an unusual bid at reelection.

This afternoon, city officials began counting an estimated 2,700 write-in ballots from eight precincts that were not counted on Tuesday night. When the results were announced four hours later, Wilkerson had added 946 votes, while Chang-Diaz has tagged on 385 to her total. The new results expanded the lead Wilkerson had held after polls closed Tuesday night from 141 to a 692 vote edge in the race.

The "missing" precincts counted so far have been Ward 4-precinct 9 ( Old Boston Trade School, Parker Street, Mission Hill), Ward 12-precinct 1 (Urban League-Warren Street/Roxbury), Ward 10-precinct 9 (James M. Curley School , Jamaica Plain), Dorchester's Ward 14-precinct 3 (Boston Pilot middle School), Ward 12-precinct 2, Ward 14-precinct 8, Ward 14-precinct 9 and Ward 19-precinct 3.

After the results were tallied, Chang-Diaz told the reporters that, no matter what the result was this evening, she would consult her legal team about pursuing a further challenge.

"We received a lot of reports from the field that there was a great potential for human error and a lack of across-the-board standards," Chang-Diaz told the Reporter. On Friday afternoon, Chang-Diaz announced in a press release that she would seek a recount.

Sen. Wilkerson, also on hand for the count, said the process had confirmed that she maintains the support of voters in the Second Suffolk.

"[My constituents]were very clear about their frustration that they had to do it this way‚" said Wilkerson. "They said, 'I think you should be more attentive to some matters. Despite that, we want you to continue to be our Senator.'"

Wilkerson added: "I absolutely never want to do it this way again."