SCOTTSDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — Incumbent Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega has conceded the election to challenger Lisa Borowsky, who the Associated Press predicts will win the race.

The election was a rematch of 2020, when Ortega beat Borowsky by nearly 6,000 votes, but the situation was reversed this year when the race was called for Borowsky. As of Thursday morning, the tally shows Borowsky with 56,050 (53.9%) to 47,953 (46.1%), with about 73% of the votes counted.

“It has been my honor to serve the residents of Scottsdale as Mayor. This campaign was hard-fought and, although my re-election was unsuccessful, I thank every voter, volunteer and friend for their support. I congratulate Mayor-elect Borowsky on her victory,” Ortega said in a statement. “She and I strongly disagreed on many issues during this campaign, but I recognize her commitment to Scottsdale residents and wish her success.”

According to According to Borowsky’s campaign website, the longtime Scottsdale resident spent more than two decades as a commercial litigation attorney, representing property owners in construction-related matters. She also has extensive experience in community engagement, including Charros Foundation of Scottsdaleand served on several committees within the city council.

She says that the ideals of “Fiscal conservatism” helped the city recover from the Great Recession.

While both embarked on a nonpartisan campaign, Ortega was endorsed by current and former conservative leaders, including Ortega’s predecessor Jim Lane, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, and former D.A. state general, Mark Brnovich.

Her top campaign priorities included rejecting density-driven development and curbing what she described as a “waste of taxpayer dollars.” His campaign website also details seven key issues and focuses on the hospitality industry, prioritizing public safety and “vision-based planning.”

Before the election, critics of independent councilor and former city councilor Ortega said efforts to limit high-density development, such as large apartment buildings in the old townhas created a housing crisis in the city. It has also been scrutinized by some county chiefs and residents of the neighboring community of Rio Verde Foothills when its water supply was cut off before a deal was later reached.

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