CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – The first batch of votes posted in Tuesday’s primary election show the race to be the city’s second-ever elected mayor is a contested race.

Among voters who cast early or absentee ballots, the two candidates currently on city council -- Jim Petras and Davida Russell -- held early leads with 28% and 27.7% of votes, according to unofficial results posted by the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections shortly after the polls closed.

Laura Kingsley Hong received just over 20% of votes cast, while Deeanna Bremer Fisher was just under 18%.

Marty Gelfand was last among the five candidates, with just over 6% of the early votes.

The tally did not include any votes from the more than 6,000 ballots cast on election day and will be updated throughout the night.

The top two vo

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