A day after updated ballot totals showed Fresno City Council candidate Naindeep Singh widening his lead over Rob Fuentes, Fuentes conceded the race.

In a social media post Wednesday night, Fuentes said he called Singh to congratulate him. Given the margin and the trend in ballot counting, Fuentes said, “it is clear that Naindeep will be the next city council member Fresno District 1.”

He also noted the significance of Singh becoming the first Punjabi American elected to the Fresno City Council.

“Although the race did not turn out as we had hoped, I am so incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support that I’ve received,” Fuentes said in his post. “To every single person who volunteered or worked on my campaign, to every person who knocked on doors, blessed me with a donation, entrusted me with an endorsement, or simply offered words of encouragement: thank you. And to the nearly 7,000 neighbors and counting who entrusted me with your votes: thank you.”

Singh did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Singh Widens Lead in Latest Ballot Count

Tuesday’s ballot update expanded Singh’s lead over Fuentes, a State Center Community College District trustee, from 199 votes to nearly 1,000. An estimated 38,759 ballots remain to be counted countywide, and Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus expects counting to be completed by Thanksgiving.

Fuentes and Singh were running to replace outgoing Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea, who is running for the state Assembly. Ballotpedia declared Perea the winner over Jim Polsgrove in the 31st Assembly District race.