An unofficial count of absentee ballots late yesterday confirmed the victory of Republican state Sen. Sandra B. Schrader over Democrat C. Vernon Gray in the District 13 race for state Senate.

Schrader, who was 731 votes ahead after the election night tally, gained 61 more than Gray in the election board count. She received 665 absentee votes to his 604. A few dozen overseas and provisional ballots must still be counted.

"I'm delighted. I'm so happy," a teary-eyed Schrader said when the results were announced at 4:15 p.m. Schrader, Del. Robert L. Flanagan and pollster Carol Arscott had spent eight hours watching the board's vote count.

"Now, the real work begins," she said.

A subdued Gray, who did not watch the count, said, "I was not banking on absentee ballots. We ran a good race. I appreciate the confidence shown to me by voters. Obviously, we got caught up in the groundswell of support for [Republican gubernatorial candidate] Bob Ehrlich. The Republicans got their base out. The Democrats didn't get their base out."

The 20-year Howard County councilman said his message to Schrader is "I wish her well," though he had not spoken to her directly. He vowed to remain active in community affairs, such as the Oakland Mills Village Center revitalization effort and the First Tee golf program, and he did not rule out running for office again.

"It's a possibility," he said.

Of Gray, Schrader said: "I thought he ran a great campaign. I worked as hard as I could."

Vote outside Columbia

Unofficial results showed that despite an edge of nearly 11,000 more registered Democrats in the district, Schrader gained so many votes in areas outside Columbia that Gray could not offset them in his political base.

At Gorman Crossing Elementary School, in the midst of the new Emerson mixed-use development, Schrader scored a 662-vote margin, receiving 1,232 votes - more than anyone else, including Ehrlich and incumbent County Councilman Allan H. Kittleman, a western county Republican.

Just three precincts in that southwestern section of the district gave Schrader a 1,591-vote advantage that Gray could not overcome.

He appeared to pay the price not only for Ehrlich's popularity, but also for unhappiness in those areas with his land-use votes on Emerson and Maple Lawn Farms, another large, mixed-use development planned for Fulton.

Schrader worked those areas hard and got help from environmental groups, which backed her and gave Gray an "F" rating, and from other Republicans who believed she could win.

First election

She was appointed to the state Senate in January, to fill the seat of Martin G. Madden, who resigned to pursue his private insurance business.

Schrader said she felt she had won election night but could not be sure until the absentees were counted.

"I was hoping, but anything's possible in politics," she said.

After the count yesterday, Schrader allowed herself to fully take in her victory.

"I get to keep my [legislative license] plates!" she exulted as she walked to her minivan, raising her arms in the air.