#Longtime Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney in primary nail-biter

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Suraj Patel and Rep. Carolyn Maloney
William Farrington/AP

Veteran Manhattan Rep. Carolyn Maloney was in the fight of her political life late Tuesday night, leading an opponent she readily dispatched during the 2018 Democratic primary by just 500  votes.

Maloney won just 41 percent of the ballots cast during the early voting and on Primary Day, while her chief opponent, Suraj Patel, shocked the Big Apple’s political establishment by notching 40 percent.

Just 482 votes separated the two with 86 percent of precincts reporting — and, crucially, with tens-of-thousands of absentee ballots yet to be counted.

“We are confident in our path to victory after a very strong performance,” Patel said in a statement. “We have a mandate for change and the final tally will reflect that.”

Maloney easily bested Patel in 2018, winning 64 percent in that primary despite the challenger’s heavy spending.