NATCHEZ — Republican Melanie Sojourner’s lead over Bob M. Dearing decreased to 414 votes Friday, but even Dearing acknowledged that his chances of victory are slipping away.

Dearing gained 251 votes on Sojourner Friday when Adams County completed its absentee count.

Only Pike County absentees remain unknown.

Sojourner won at the Pike County polls by approximately 1,000 votes.

Typically absentees reflect the ballot box.

With all ballots counted in Adams, Amite and Franklin plus poll results in Pike County, Sojourner has 10,050 votes. Dearing has 9,636 votes. Both tallies are unofficial.

Unofficial Pike County results at the polls total 2,583 votes for Sojourner and 1,549 votes for Dearing.

Dearing said he was pleased with the results of Adams County votes, but said he is unsure that the amount of precincts in Pike County can lead him to a victory.

“The odds are getting higher in her favor,” Dearing said.

“But we’re going to wait on Pike to come in.”

Dearing refused to concede the race without final numbers from Pike County.

Pike County reported to the Secretary of State’s Office Monday a total of 700 absentees, but only 11 out of 31 precincts fall in the Senate 37 district lines.

Adams County finished counting 652 absentee ballots Friday evening.

Of those 395 were for Dearing and 257 for Sojourner.

The Adams County absentee ballots brought the total of counted ballots for each candidate in the county to 5,421 for Dearing and 3,499 for Sojourner.

In Amite County Sojourner received 2,194 votes and, Dearing received 1,266, including absentees.

In Franklin County, Sojourner received 1,744 votes, and Dearing received 1,440 votes, including absentees.

Pike County officials will finish counting the remaining 16 precincts on Monday.