AIKEN, S.C. – The ballots have been counted, and Aiken’s election night has concluded with the selection of representatives for three city council seats.

In this local election, over 2,000 residents participated in the democratic process to fill these important positions, with one district race proving to be particularly competitive.

Election officials reported a consistent voter turnout, and notably, the event proceeded smoothly without any significant disruptions.

As results from the majority of precincts came in, Democrats were slightly ahead in straight-party voting, edging out their Republican counterparts.

District 4 witnessed the most active voter participation among Aiken’s city council contests, with Republican candidate Peter Messina securing victory by capturing 66 percent of the votes from the more than a thousand ballots submitted.

District 5 was the tightest race of the night, with Democrat Braylen D. Waldo edging out Republican Kent Cubbage by just 12 votes, 362 to 350.

In District 6, Republican Barbara Morgan beat out Democrat Lisa Smith, earning 65.64 percent of the vote.

“I just want to bring in a solid team around me to help me get some of this stuff done — adding more people to the planning commission, starting there, to help resolve some of the issues we have and bring in some things that’ll be exciting for our district. I think they’re ready for change, and I think the message is clear tonight,” said Braylen D. Waldo, Councilman-elect for District 5.

“Braylen did a great job — he got his base out to vote. That’s how you win an election,” said Kent Cubbage, former candidate in District 5. “It was a nice, clean campaign and a good exchange of ideas. I don’t know what I would’ve done differently. I wish him well — he’s gonna be my city councilman, it looks like. So, I’ll probably be giving him a call if I have a pothole or something. Congratulations to him.”

These are the unofficial election results.

Provisional ballots and certification of those votes will take place Thursday at 9 a.m.