After months of campaigning, door knocking and town halls, candidates in the race for Salem’s mayor and four seats on the Salem City Council saw the results of their efforts Tuesday night, May 19.The first ballots dropped around 8 p.m., showing that Councilor Vanessa Nordyke was leading incumbent Mayor Julie Hoy. Hoy conceded the race Wednesday afternoon.Candidates backed by Progressive Salem gathered at the Willamette Heritage Center’s Dye House to watch the initial results. Along with Nordyke, city council president Linda Nishioka appeared to have a commanding lead as of the initial results. Gov. Tina Kotek was in attendance, and saw the results showing she’d win the Democratic primary. The party for candidates backed by Marion + Polk First gathered at the Salem Convention Center with live music, some of it performed by candidates. Early results showed Betsy Vega, who challenged Councilor Mai Vang for the Ward 6 seat, was poised to win. Early results showed Deanna Gwyn, Ward 3 incumbent councilor, was likely to lose to challenger Dave Inbody. As of Wednesday afternoon, the Ward 8 race between incumbent Micki Varney and Chris Cummings remained too close to call. See the latest results here. Vanessa Nordyke celebrates the initial results, which showed her on track to win the Salem mayor’s race. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Mayor Julie Hoy gets a hug from a supporter after receiving disappointing initial returns for her race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Hoy conceded the race on Wednesday. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Vanessa Nordyke watches the results roll in. She won her bid to become Salem’s mayor. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) A staffer clips Progressive Salem flyers together. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Mayor Julie Hoy gets support from husband Roger Hoy after receiving disappointing initial returns for her race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Hoy conceded the race on Wednesday. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Vanessa Nordyke, left, poses for a photo with Gov. Tina Kotek. Both won their primary elections, with Nordyke set to become Salem’s next mayor. (HAILEY COOK/ Salem Reporter). Progressive Salem candidates A citizen hugs Vanessa Nordyke. who won the election Tuesday night. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Vanessa Nordyke hugs Gov. Tina Kotek, who came to support Nordyke at the progressives. “I’d really like to live in a city where the mayor is Vanessa Nordyke,” Kotek said to the crowd around 8 p.m. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Councilor Paul Tigan looks closely at the results as they pour in around 8 p.m. during an election party Tuesday, May 19. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Gov. Tina Kotek reacts to results at an election party Tuesday night. She won the bid for the Democratic primary. (HAILEY COOK/ Salem Reporter) Watch party attendees mingle after the initial results came in. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Councilors Paul Tigan, left and Linda Nishioka watch initial ballot counts drop around 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19. at an election night party. Nishioka won her election. (HAILEY COOK/ Salem Reporter) Vanessa Nordyke at her election night party Tuesday, May 19. She won her bid for mayor of Salem. (HAILEY COOK/ Salem Reporter) Ward 4 candidate Dave Inbody speaks to the crowd at the watch party. He won, unseating incumbent Deanna Gwyn. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) An watch party attendee sports a Vanessa Nordyke pin. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Watch party attendees applaud as Kotek addresses the crowd. (HAILEY COOK/Salem Reporter) Marion + Polk First candidates Candidate Betsy Vega sees the initial returns at 8 p.m. showing her in the lead for the ward 6 race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) An attendee at the election party at the Salem Convention Center watches returns come in on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Salem City Councilor Deanna Gwyn and a friend watch election returns come in for the Ward 4 race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. opponent Dave Inbody. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) City council candidate Betsy Vega gives a victory speech while Mayor Julie Hoy looks on at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. As of Wednesday, Vega appears to have won her bid for election. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) The crowd listens to Mayor Jule Hoy speak after seeing disappointing returns in the mayoral race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Salem City Councilor Deanna Gwyn and a friend watch election returns come in for the Ward 4 race at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Gwyn lost her bid for another term. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) An attendee at the election party at the Salem Convention Center watches returns come in on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Attendees at the election party at the Salem Convention Center eagerly scan election returns on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Chris Cummings, Ward 8 city council candidate, and Roger Hoy watch returns come in at the Salem Convention Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (LAURA TESLER/For Salem Reporter) Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] . SIGN UP: Salem Reporter is dedicated to covering the people, issues, and stories that shape our community. Stay connected to Salem. Subscribe today. The post PHOTO GALLERY: Candidates, supporters react to vote results on Salem’s election night appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less