Arkansas’s second-largest city will have a new mayor for the first time since 2009, after city marketing exec Molly Rawn narrowly defeated incumbent mayor Lioneld Jordan in a runoff election Tuesday.

Unofficial results show Experience Fayetteville CEO defeats incumbent Lioneld Jordan in a runoff election on Dec. 3.

With 51% of the vote, Molly Rawn defeated Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan in a runoff Tuesday (Dec. 3), according to unofficial results. Rawn will start her term in January.

Molly Rawn, Fayetteville's tourism director, defeated incumbent Mayor Lioneld Jordan, who has served since 2009, in Tuesday's runoff election.

The runoff became necessary after both candidates fell short of the majority threshold in the Nov. 5 general election, where Jordan received 47% of the vote compared to Rawn’s 37%. Candidates Tom Terminella (12%) and Adam Fire Cat (4%) also sought the position.

The Fayetteville mayoral race is heading to a runoff between Lioneld Jordan and Molly Rawn, as early voting begins Tuesday.

The city's incumbent mayor has raised and spent more money on his campaign since Election Day than his challenger.

Rawn defeated incumbent mayor Lioneld Jordan in a runoff. He was first elected mayor in 2008. 5,411 voters cast their ballots for Rawn. 5,149 cast theirs for Jordan. Rawn has lived in Fayetteville for 19 years. She is executive director of the city's Advertising and Promotion Commission and CEO of Experience Fayetteville.

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