PORTLAND — Former state Sen. Michael Brennan received the most first place votes in the race to become Portland’s first popularly elected mayor in nearly 90 years.

But he did not win the election, because he didn’t receive more than 50 percent of the vote.

The city will conduct an instant runoff starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to determine the city’s first mayor.

Preliminary results showed Brennan receiving nearly 27 percent, leading former state Sen. Ethan Strimling, who received 22 percent, by a vote of 5,240 to 4,390.

City Councilor and Mayor Nicholas Mavodones Jr. came in third, receiving 2,938 votes, or 15 percent.

Brennan and Strimling said they were confident they could pick up the votes needed to by pushed over the top, while Mavodones said he considers himself within striking distance.

But all three were taking a wait-and-see approach about the first instant runoff in the state.

City Councilor David Marshall, meanwhile, came in fourth with 1,516 votes.

Jed Rathband’s 1,394 votes was enough to edge City Councilor Jill Duson’s 824 votes, followed by Markos Miller’s 718 votes. Richard Dodge, the only Republican in the race, netted 670 votes.

Other totals: Christopher Vail,  403; Peter Bryant, 367 ; Ralph Carmona, 317; John Eder, 271; Charles Bragdon, 213; Hamza Haadoow, 185; and Jodie Lapchick, 127.

Randy Billings can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 100 or rbillings@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @randybillings