Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles won a third term Tuesday with what preliminary vote totals show to be a commanding lead over challenger Stephanie de Sarachaga-Bilbao.

As of about 10 p.m., Lyles leads 45,462 to 20,588 with 87% precincts reporting. Lyles’ win over her Republican challenger is no surprise in heavily Democratic Charlotte.

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“We had so many voters along the aisles and people that maybe weren’t open to a message from a first-time candidate were absolutely open," de Sarachaga-Bilbao said after the results were in.

“I’m very proud of that result. Of course we would have liked to see more people come out and vote but that’s just not what happened this time in general," she told Spectrum News 1. “I’m very much a person who believes in fate or God and this wasn’t meant to be at this time, it will be meant to be at another time and I will continue to be a voice for the people."

Total turnout between early voting and Election Day was about 12% in the Charlotte municipal elections.

The election date was postponed last year because of COVID-related delays getting new census numbers. The city is required to use new population data to draw new council districts every 10 years.

Charlotte is one of a handful of cities in North Carolina electing their next mayors and city councils Tuesday. Greensboro and Fayetteville also elected their next municipal leaders.

Lyles won the May Democratic primary with an overwhelming 84% of the 57,000 votes cast in that race, according to election results from the State Board of Elections.

Tuesday’s win for Lyles is seen as a vote for her leadership of the city through the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid growth that has continued despite the coronavirus.

De Sarachaga-Bilbao ran on a platform of public safety, smart growth and investing in small businesses. But it wasn’t enough to attract Democratic voters away from the popular incumbent.

Lyles will be sworn in for her third term, along with the new Charlotte City Council, on Sept. 6.