ALBANY COUNTY — Although unofficial results name Andra Ackerman the winner in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for Albany County Court Judge, she cautioned that absentee ballots still need to be counted.

“The numbers are on my side but it’s not official yet,” she said on Wednesday morning.

According to the unofficial tally from the Albany County Board of Elections, Ackerman currently has 8,481 votes, or 642 more votes than her opponent, Holly Trexler, who has 7,839 votes. There are 608 write-in votes.

Matthew Clyne, the Democratic Commissioner for the Board of Elections, said that, so far, 1,719 Democratic absentee ballots have been received county-wide and will be opened on July 2.

Ackerman, a Cohoes City Court Judge, said on Wednesday morning that she was grateful for all those who supported her during her campaign but was wary of the unofficial results and the number of absentee ballots to be counted.

Trexler, an Albany City Court Judge, also noted on Wednesday that the results are still unofficial and said she could not comment at this time.

With no Republican running against the Democratic candidate, either woman would be the first female judge in Albany County Court.

“It’s one of the many reasons I ran … ,” said Ackerman. “We need diversity in every area on the bench.”

Ackerman and Trexler, both 47, are city court judges with past experiences as prosecutors. Ackerman previously told The Enterprise that her philosophy as a judge is dedicated to compassion and an obligation to try to solve problems in a community. In her time as a judge she has created a program to help at-risk youth that she wants to bring to the county level.

Trexler told The Enterprise that her philosophy centers around restorative justice that is reflected in her actions such as bringing in advocates for the homeless and mentally-ill to Albany City Court.