Incumbent mayors in St. Pete Beach and Safety Harbor lost to their challengers Tuesday night, while voters decided to keep the mayor of Madeira Beach.

In what was a major upset in St. Pete Beach, incumbent Steve McFarlin, 57, lost by nearly five percentage points to challenger Maria Lowe, 37.

Lowe won with 52 percent (2,047 votes) of the vote. McFarlin received 48 percent (1,859 votes).

The candidates faced off in a debate last month. One of the big issues in the debate was how long the candidates had lived in St. Pete Beach.

Lowe has only been living in the city for about a year and a half. McFarlin is a 19-year resident.

Lowe danced with her supporters while celebrating her victory at Rick's Reef. Lowe is a West Point graduate and disabled veteran who served in Afghanistan. She credits her win to grassroots campaigning.

"I really believe that it was the people that worked with me that made all of the difference," she said. "It was each and every day being out knocking on doors, meeting people where they are comfortable, introducing myself to them in a personal way."

McFarlin was running for his second term.

“Well, certainly it’s a disappointment,” he said. “I can only hope that we keep the momentum on many of the projects that we had started and I believe she will.”

Lowe takes over the mayor's office on March 25th. She said she hopes McFarlin will work with her in the future.

"I want to thank Mayor McFarlin for the time he spent leading this city," she said. "Each and every candidate that steps up in a public role is to be respected and to be honored.

“I do like Maria and I have faith in her," McFarlin said. "I support her and I think she’ll do a good job. Just needs to learn the people and learn the town.”

Lowe is the first woman to be elected mayor in the city’s history.

Meanwhile, it was a close race in Safety Harbor and not-so-close race in Madeira Beach.

Safety Harbor incumbent Mayor Joe Ayoub conceded to former Mayor Andy Steingold, who received 45 percent of the vote (2,676 votes). Ayoub received 43 percent (2,589 votes). Nancy Besore had 12 percent (708 votes).

"It’s a little disappointing but we fought a good fight, we ran a campaign based on the issues," said Ayoub. “I congratulated Andy Steingold on his win. He fought hard, he ran a good campaign, I wish him the best. The city’s in good hands.”

“I’ve got to earn the respect of those whose vote I did not get tonight," Steingold said. "I’m very humbled, though with this very marginal win.”

In Madeira Beach, incumbent Mayor Travis Palladeno won by a landslide with 80 percent of the vote (1,110 votes).

“I think people are excited the direction that Madeira Beach is going right now. Things are getting done we have a lot of activities going in the city and from what I’ve heard from the people while I was out campaigning everybody is in love with the city and they want to see it keep moving forward," Palladeno said. 

Victor Cucaro received 20 percent of the vote (275 votes).

“I’m an underdog. I have no support. I spent only $1,000 on my campaign," said Cucaro.

Several city council and commission races also took place in Clearwater, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Pinellas Park and Tarpon Springs.