What’s happening in CD-7?

On election night, incumbent Democrat Tom Malinowski led Republican Tom H. Kean Jr. by about 28,000 votes and was the presumed winner.

Malinowski still has the advantage, given the fact he’s still ahead, but his lead is shrinking seemingly day by day as votes are slowly counted by the six counties that make up the sprawling Seventh District.

Now, it’s down to about 6,200.

Votes remain to be counted in Union and Somerset counties where Malinowski has been getting close to 55 percent of the vote. That could theoretically offset additional counting in Republican leaning counties like Morris and Hunterdon. Then again, Kean picked up some votes this afternoon when the Union vote count was updated.

This was a pretty nasty race, so some late-minute drama may seem appropriate.

Still, this has to be a nervous time for Malinowski and a hopeful one for the Kean camp.

A Kean win here would be comparable to winning a baseball game by scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth.