Incumbent Jennifer Nelson and challenger Patty Cummings will advance to the General Election on Nov. 8 for the Cape Coral City Council District 4 seat.

Nelson easily took the top spot in Tuesday’s primary with 12,799 votes, or 44.71 percent.

She said she was excited for the support she received throughout the city.

“I’m excited the residents put their trust in me. I am grateful for all the support I received not only from the constituents but from the fire, police and labor unions,” Nelson said. “I look forward to the general election in November.”

Cummings, who ran two years ago in District 7 and didn’t get past the primary, had to sweat it out a bit as she and the third candidate in the three-way race, Joshua Clark, were neck and neck for much of the night before Cummings pulled away with 8,059 votes, or 28.15 percent to Clark’s 7,768, or 27.14%.

“I sweated all the way through, but the Lord came through and we were happy to see the numbers in our direction,” Cummings said. “I want to thank my team and supporters who stuck by me. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have finished second.”

There will be no automatic recount, which is triggered when the margin is a half-point or less.

Both advancing candidates said they are ready for a tough battle in November.

“My hope is that everybody focuses on themselves and we all move forward for the betterment of our community in the future,” Nelson said. “I look forward to what the citizens want.”

“I was happy to see that me and Josh took more than 50 percent. I feel that’s in my favor and it shows people are ready for new blood,” Cummings said. “I respect all the candidates. It takes guts to do what we do.”

Cape Coral elections are non-partisan.

Advancing in the District 1 primary was Bill Steinke and Carol Rae Culliton.

Other municipal races on the General Election ballot include the mayoral race, featuring the incumbent Mayor John Gunter and Tom Shadrach. In District 6, incumbent Keith Long will seek his first full four-year term when he faces Wayne Hecht.

Since there were only two candidates in those races, there was no primary for the seats.