The Sacramento City Council race for District 8 intensified between candidates Mai Vang and Pastor Les Simmons as the results from the latest ballot count dropped on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm still nervous," Vang said. "We know there's still 6,000 votes left."The seat was up for election when Councilmember Larry Carr, who currently represents District 8, announced he is retiring.The race was expected to be tight from the beginning, partly due to its high-profile candidates. Vang, a Sacramento City School Board Trustee, worked with district staff to tackle the education emergency stemming from COVID-19. Simmons, a senior pastor at South Sacramento Christian Center, turned his church into a free COVID-19 testing site and hosted food drives for those in need. The gap between Vang and Simmons widened slightly on Tuesday afternoon, with Vang securing 52% of the vote and Simmons with 47%. The candidates are separated by nearly 600 votes, according to the Sacramento County Registrar's Office."With thousands of votes estimated to still be counted in this race, we are continuing to be patient until we reach a final vote tally," Simmons said in a written statement. "I'd like to thank the elections staff and workers who are working around the clock to ensure every vote is counted and every voice is heard."If Vang is elected, she would be the first Asian American woman elected to the Sacramento City Council, and the first Hmong person to hold the position."Sacramento is incredibly diverse, and I think folks in position of power need to reflect that," she said. However the election swings, District 8 will see someone championing for social justice, equity and families while they serve on the city council. The Sacramento County Elections Office updates its ballot count again this Friday.