The biggest increases came in New Hanover and Pender counties. New Hanover County saw a close race for three seats on Wilmington City Council, along with contested mayoral races in Wilmington, Carolina Beach and Kure Beach. The voter turnout was a reported 14.5 percent, up from the 10.4 percent in 2015. In Pender County the turnout of 26.1 percent was highest among the five counties, up from 22.08 percent in 2015 Municipal Elections.