
Joyce Melvin (left) hands her ballot to poll worker Gary Taylor during primary Election Day, Tuesday at Southview Baptist Church.
Incumbents led the field of City Council and Lincoln Board of Education candidates heading into the May 4 general election, where Democrats were the front-runners but Republican newcomers in both races garnered a significant number of election-day votes.
Democrats are more likely to vote early -- something party officials have encouraged -- and that held true Tuesday, with early returns favoring Democrats.
But by the end of the night, Republican newcomer Mary Hilton had scored 8,468 in-person votes -- the most of the 12 candidates vying for the three at-large City Council seats. That put her as the fourth top vote-getter, just behind third-place Republican Roy Christensen, who is running for a third term.
Allen Simpson, treasurer for the Lancaster County Republicans, said he hopes that reflects momentum for those candidates.
“What I hope that means is that those people making those decisions closer to the election thought Mary (Hilton) was a pretty good candidate,” he said.
Democratic City Council incumbents Sändra Washington and Bennie Shobe remained the top vote-getters throughout the night.
The top six from Tuesday's primary will vie for the three at-large City Council spots to be determined next month. Early voting for the general election can begin on April 19.
In one of the two contested school board races, Republican Christina Campbell, running for the first time against veteran District 1 incumbent Kathy Danek, a Democrat with broad support in northeast Lincoln, garnered 909 day-of-election votes -- the most in the two contested school board races -- to climb within fewer than 200 votes of Danek.
Danek had a Democratic challenger, Colette Yellow Robe, who won’t move on to the general election.
All city races are officially nonpartisan.
Overall voter turnout for the school board, City Council and airport authority races was just under 25%, and more than two-thirds of those voters -- 29,746 -- cast their ballots early. A total of 14,528 voters went to the polls Tuesday.
Lancaster County Election Commissioner Dave Shively said about 74% of the early ballots his office mailed to voters were returned, a percentage he wishes was higher, though it is similar to other recent city elections. And the number of early ballots his office mailed out for this primary has more than doubled since the 2019 mayoral race.
The pandemic is still playing a part in that, but the number of people who choose to vote early could remain high, he said. Voters asking to be on the permanent list to get an early ballot request form have doubled.
“I think the pandemic is still playing into it, but i think once people vote early, vote by mail, they kind of look at it and say, 'This is easy, I like doing it,'” he said.
Lancaster County Democrats called for party unity during a Wednesday event, and City Council candidate Aurang Zeb urged his supporters to vote for the three remaining Democratic candidates in the race: Washington, Shobe and newcomer Tom Beckius.
Beckius, who ran fifth among City Council candidates, said Democrats would run as a team, in the hopes of sweeping all three at-large seats.
“Last night showed us we are only 1,800 votes away from taking all three seats in the City Council,” he said.
Fewer than 600 votes separated Shobe, Christensen and Hilton. Republican Eric Burling, too, advanced to the general election but ran well back in sixth.
Jason Jackson, chairman of the Lancaster County Republican Party, said in a statement that Republican candidates’ platforms of keeping kids in school and funding public safety was a winning message that helped them perform well.
Top Journal Star photos for March
Secret Jungle at the Lincoln Children's Zoo is now open.

Tonnie, a female 10-month-old black-headed spider monkey, explores her enclosure in the Lincoln Children's Zoo Secret Jungle.
Top photos from March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Elkhorn’s Dane Petersen (41) feels the weight of Beatrice’s Jace Pethoud (11) as he, Elliott Jurgens (5) and Kaden Glynn defend against him in the second half on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021, during the Class B state final at Pinnacle Bank Arena. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/12/2021 - Millard North's Saint Thomas celebrates after scoring a three-point-shot right before Millard West called a timeout in the second quarter during a class A semifinal, Friday, March 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Auburn players, including Cam Binder (2) and Bret Baltensperger (40) give the Pierce team a wave after winning a Class C-1 boys state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Top photos for March

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts delivers opening remarks in opposition of medical marijuana legislation during a public press conference at the Nebraska State Capitol on Wednesday, March 10, 2021. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Milford's Seth Stutzman (top) rises over Omaha Concordia's Justin Otten for a rebound in the third quarter in a Class C-1 boys state tournament first-round game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Top photos for March

Nebraska's Eleanor Dale (left) follows the ball after heading it over Michigan's Alia Martin in the first overtime period on Sunday, March 07, 2021, at Barbara Hibner Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Local artist Connie Clark practices painting at her at her easel in her artist workspace situated in the corner of the apartment she lives in on Monday, March 01, 2021.
Top photos from March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Falls City Sacred Heart’s Jacob Froeschl (12) and his teammates celebrate their win over Parkview Christian on Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021, during the Class D-2 state final at Pinnacle Bank Arena. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Auburn players rest on the sideline while waiting for their gold medals after winning the C-1 state championship, Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos from March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/12/2021 - Nebraska's Lexi Sun (11) and Lauren Stivrins (26) led the Huskers to a come-from-behind win over Ohio State on Friday, Mar. 12, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center. Sun had 17 kills and Stivrins had 18 kills as Nebraska came from two sets down to win against the Buckeyes. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Lincoln, NE - 3/9/2021 - (L - R) Millard North parents Tonya Sandoval, mother of basketball player Tyler Sandoval, and Jessica Haynes, mother of basketball player Hunter Sallis, pick up cutouts of the team's players and coaches before a boys state tournament quarterfinal game on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Lincoln, NE - 3/11/2021 - Two E-4B aircraft prepare to take off on Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Lincoln Airport GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Lincoln, NE - 3/12/2021 - Elkhorn's Colton Uhing (20) reacts to teammate Dane Petersen (41) dunk as Norris's Cade Rice (15) watches in a Class B boys state tournament semifinal game on Friday, March 12, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos for March

Lincoln, NE - 3/15/2021 - Debris sits outside Southwood Village Apartments at South 27th Street and Nebraska 2 after Lincoln Fire and Rescue responded to a fire on Monday, March 15, 2021. GWYNETH ROBERTS, Journal Star
Top photos from March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/12/2021 - Nebraska’s Lexi Sun (11) and Lauren Stivrins (26) led the Huskers to a come-from-behind win over Ohio State on Friday, Mar. 12, 2021, at the Devaney Sports Center. Sun had 17 kills and Stivrins had 18 kills as Nebraska came from two sets down to win against the Buckeyes. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/05/2021 - Pius X’s Charlee Hagedorn (34), Alexis Markowski (partially hidden), Adison Markowski (32) Miriam Miller (12) and Jill Aschoff (right) celebrate at the buzzer as they defeated Omaha Central 47-38 on Friday, Mar. 5, 2021, during the Class A state semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Alexis Markowski scored 30 points and grabbed 27 rebounds in the win. FRANCIS GARDLER, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Weeping Water's Jamison Twomey (2) collapses on the floor after a resulting dogpile after the class D1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - North Bend celebrates on the court after defeating Hastings St. Cecilia to win the class C1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Hastings St. Cecilia's Katharine Hamburger (center) comforts teammates Erin Sheehy (left) and Bailey Kissinger after as they wait for the runner up trophy after losing the class C1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - North Bend's Cierra Kluthe raises the net after her team became the the class C1 state champions on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/06/2021 - Weeping Water celebrates on the court after defeating Pleasanton by a single score by Weeping Water's Grace Cave in the final minute of the fourth quarter during the class D1 state championship match on Saturday, March 06, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/07/2021 - Nebraska and Michigan players take a moment to kneel before the start of the match on Sunday, March 07, 2021, at Barbara Hibner Stadium. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/11/2021 - GICC's Brayton Johnson (15) and Isaac Herbek (right) react after a dunk by Gil Jengmer (not pictured) in the third quarter during a C-2 state semifinal, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Top photos for March

LINCOLN, NEB. - 03/13/2021 - Auburn's Ryan Dixon ties a string of net around his gold medal after Auburn won the C-1 state championship, Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
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On Twitter @LJSreist