NEW YORK STATE – After five out of eight counties in the 22nd Congressional District finished counting absentee ballots for the 2018 midterm elections on Friday, Anthony Brindisi's lead over Claudia Tenney has grown to 3,223 votes, doubling his lead after election night.

After election night the margin separating Brindisi and Tenney was around 1,500 votes. Tenney now needs to receive 78 percent of remaining absentee ballot votes in Chenango, Oneida, and Tioga counties to win as they finish counting this week.

Chenango County Board of Elections began counting absentee ballots on Friday and election officials say they're about halfway done. They expect to finish counting absentee ballots for the 22nd Congressional race on Monday.