NBC News published a report Tuesday on the mayoral election in Ferguson, Mo. focusing on the race of the candidate who did not win.

NBC News chose to frame its story as, "Ferguson, Missouri, Declines to Elect First Black Mayor."

Mayor James Knowles III won re-election, defeating challenger and Ferguson City Council member Ella Jones 56 percent to 44 percent. Knowles was elected in 2011 and re-elected unopposed in 2014, but then faced controversy for his handling of the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown.

Over two-thirds of Ferguson residents are African-American. Still, NBC noted, "The fear now, with Knowles' winning a third three-year term, is that residents, activists and protesters — already doubtful that anything will ever change — could harden their attitudes."

The odd headline caught the attention of critics on social media.

With this headline, you’re suggesting that a diverse, but mostly black, town is racist for electing the best qualified candidate. Awful. https://t.co/TtWcjA25J8 — Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) April 5, 2017

@NBCNews Are you ashamed of yourselves yet, NBC News? 67% of Ferguson's population is black. Are you calling the town's voters racists? — Brian Cates (@drawandstrike) April 5, 2017

@NBCNews "Decline to elect"- maybe he just didn't win? — MattOnTrack (@MattOnTrackShow) April 5, 2017