SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — We might not know a winner in the race to be Suffolk’s next mayor until early next week.

Tuesday is when Jim Oaks, the chair of the Suffolk Electoral Board, said the provisional ballots would likely be added to the total vote count. Until then, the top local race in Suffolk will remain undecided.

With early voting, Election Day and mail in absentee votes counted, incumbent Mayor Mike Duman leads former Del. Clinton Jenkins by just 68 votes.

The more than 1,300 provisional ballots cast in the race could make the difference.

“Don’t give up hope that your candidate didn’t win,” Oaks said. “It’s close enough that there is a way could go either way.”

Jenkins, who was elected to two terms in the Virginia House of Delegates as a Democrat, watched the canvas Wednesday.

“I feel really good,” Jenkins said. “There are over a thousand ballots out there still to be counted. They have to certified first, make sure that they are registered voters and then they are going through and see how they vote.”

Duman didn’t visit the canvasing operation, but said he’s confident one way or another that the race is headed to a recount.

“I knew I felt like it was always going to be a tight race just based on the three candidates and what their platforms were,” Duman said. “I don’t really know what’s going to happen with the provisional votes. So they may go in Mr. Jenkins favor.”

All three candidates in the race, Duman, Jenkins and political newcomer David Bosselman, garnered more than 30% of the vote.

Bosselman leaned into issues surrounding the city’s growth, while Duman focused on his experience. Jenkins tied himself to the Democratic party in a city that always goes blue in presidential elections.

“Absolutely no doubt the residents have spoken and, you know, we’ve always listened, but it really resonated in this election,” Duman said. “So we will, from my standpoint, I will continue to represent everyone and move forward as best we can.”

If the gap remains within a margin of less than 1%, a recount can be requested. If it’s less than half a precent, taxpayers will pick up the bill.

Yet Jenkins isn’t saying he will order one yet.

“Not yet,” Jenkins said. “The process is still underway. And I just want to see how the process goes. And then from there, I’ll make a decision.”