Payne, an activist, won the most votes, with 3,657. He took seven out of nine city precincts.

Snook, a criminal-defense attorney, placed second, with 3,501 votes, despite raising far more money than any other candidate. He won only two precincts — Alumni Hall and Walker.

"I hope that we will be able to develop a common approach to these issues, and work together to address affordable housing, transportation planning, and climate change," Snook wrote in an email late Tuesday night.

Magill, a member of the board of the Region Ten Community Services Board, came in third, with 3,183 votes.

Brian Pinkston, a University of Virginia project manager, placed a close fourth, with 3,073 votes.

The race was too close to call until absentee ballots were reported around 10 p.m., three hours after polls closed.

Former Councilor Bob Fenwick came in at a distant fifth, with 1,227 votes. This was his fifth run for the City Council and his third as a Democrat. He has only won once and wrapped up that term in 2017. He didn’t return a call for comment Tuesday night.