After counting everything except absentee ballots turned in on election day, Darrell Fong is leading by 373 votes.

As of 11:20 p.m., District 7 City Council candidate Darrell Fong said he was hopeful.

“We’ll see how the race ends up,” he said. “We’re ahead and our numbers are going up, but until the precincts are counted, we’re hopeful.

We’ve had a great time, and there’s a lot of support, a lot of volunteers,” Fong said. “In the primaries we were 800 votes down, so we’ve closed the gap. But the fight is not over.”

The most recent update Fong had seen showed he was 270 votes ahead of Chin.

“We’ve run the race, and we’ve both run a strong campaign,” he said.

“I just want to thank everybody who helped our campaign, and if it weren’t for their belief in us, we wouldn’t be here right now,” he added.

A look at Fong’s election party

City Council candidate Darrell Fong and his supporters were in good humor as they received news of an early two-point lead.

Several dozen people came to Fong’s election party on Florin Road. Supporters were surrounded by balloons and enjoyed homemade food as they watched the live results trickle in.

"It's been a long year and a half,” Fong said. “I'm optimistic, but with my background, you don't get excited. Am I nervous? Sure, but in this business you can't let yourself get excited."

His background is with the police academy where he has worked his way up from patrol officer to captain.

Art Gee, a 61-year-old who works for the county, helped with Fong’s campaign.

"I've been walking precincts and making phone calls,” Gee said. “I spent part of today and the weekend doing that. I feel great about the election. I think Darrell has done a tremendous job, and he's kept his campaign on the high road, and we're looking forward to him winning."

Fong’s nephew, 24-year-old transportation planner from Roseville Rob Hananouchi, spoke with voters while walking precincts door to door.

"I've ... talked (with voters) about what is important to them, how they choose their candidates,” he said. “I think it's important to get to know people a little better in the precincts and the district in general."

Retired Sacramento Police captain Mary Savage, 60, supported Fong’s campaign in what ways she could.

"Mostly my contributions have been monetary because I don't have time to participate otherwise, and then of course I've been talking to friends and neighbors and talking about their options and the way they will vote," she said.