State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal appeared to defeat City Council Member Keith Powers in the Democratic primary for Manhattan borough president, moving him closer to making history as the first openly gay person elected to a boroughwide position in New York City.

“Not only did we make history,” said John Wahlmeier, a Hoylman-Sigal supporter and Democratic district leader, “but we made it with somebody who’s proactive and absolutely wonderful.”