New York’s Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was officially announced as the winner of the Democratic primary for the mayor of New York City following a long and controversial count in the heated election.

Adams, a former police captain, ran on the pledge to both fight crime and end racial injustice in America’s historic city.

“While there are still some very small amounts of votes to be counted, the results are clear: an historic, diverse, five-borough coalition led by working-class New Yorkers has led us to victory in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City,” Adams said in a statement.

“Now we must focus on winning in November so that we can deliver on the promise of this great city for those who are struggling, who are underserved, and who are committed to a safe, fair, affordable future for all New Yorkers.”

The city’s first ranked-choice vote included significant controversy. Most notably, the election’s test ballots were left out of the final tally. Adams remained the vote leader both before and after the test ballots were included.

New York City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia ranked second, noting in a statement, “This campaign has come closer than any other in history to breaking that glass ceiling and selecting New York City’s first female mayor.”

The board continues to finalize results for certification. Adams is expected to win in November as Democrats are favored in the city’s general election.

The win showed both the city’s desire for a leader tough on crime as well the concerns with its new ranked-choice system. New York may also offer a preview of the drama that will face national elections as the nation will soon focus on the 2022 midterm elections.