BOSTON -- Challenger Sonia Chang-Diaz again finished ahead of incumbent Sen. Dianne Wilkerson after a recount of ballots in the Democratic primary for the 2nd Suffolk Senatorial District race.

Wilkerson lost by 228 votes to Chang-Diaz in the initial vote.

Wilkerson hoped to have votes recounted in five wards, but only submitted enough signatures to force a recount in three wards. Chang-Diaz submitted enough signatures to have votes recounted in one ward.

The recount began Saturday morning in the Election Department at City Hall, and took several hours to complete, after missing ballots stalled the process.

Wilkerson has told supporters she'll wage a write-in campaign as a Democrat in the general election if she loses the recount.

In that case, she would need to convince voters to ignore the printed names on their ballots and write in her name.