In a stunning defeat, Republican incumbent Edwin Peacock lost his re-election bid for Charlotte City Council at-large Tuesday night as his campaign was hurt by low voter turnout and Democratic Mayor Anthony Foxx's political coattails.

Peacock, who has served since 2007, finished fifth in a nine-person race. He lost to two Democratic incumbents - Patrick Cannon and David Howard - but also to two Democratic newcomers, Claire Fallon and Beth Pickering.

Pickering beat Peacock for fourth, in a win that observers said was a huge upset.

Pickering, who moved to Charlotte from Denver, Colo., five years ago, hadn't run for public office before.

She was recruited to run by party officials July 4 - a little more than two months before the September primary.

She raised less than $1,800, according to the most recent campaign report. Peacock had raised more than $55,000.

"I am amazed. I am speechless," said Pickering, who manages audits for Presbyterian Hospital. "I don't know what else to say; I felt like I was connecting with voters the whole time."

Foxx's successful re-election campaign energized Democratic voters. But in heavily Republican areas, turnout was down. At Carmel Presbyterian Church in south Charlotte, 630 people voted in the 2009 city election. Only 433 people showed up Tuesday.

Peacock's loss is another sign that Charlotte is becoming increasingly Democratic, with a growing African-American and Hispanic population.

Overall, turnout was very low, with roughly 16 percent of voters casting ballots - the lowest since at least 1997. Turnout was 21 percent in 2009.

After early voting was lopsided heavily in favor of Democrats, Peacock began scrambling late last week, trying to mobilize Republican voters.

"We saw this on Thursday with the early voting numbers," Peacock said. "At that point, we realized we were in trouble."

Peacock said his campaign this year was similar in theme and strategy to his 2009 campaign, in which he finished third. Peacock is a middle-of-the-road Republican, and the Peacock name carries weight in the city, as his father also served on the City Council.

"I think the main thing is we didn't get our message out, about spending, about the headwinds our city is facing," Peacock said.

Pickering finished fourth comfortably ahead of Peacock. She had 40,449 votes, while Peacock had 35,000.

The Democrats now have all four council at-large seats and expanded their majority to an unprecedented 9-2, along with having a Democratic mayor.

Fallon had more experience in local politics than Pickering. She led a community group in northeast Charlotte and serves on the Mecklenburg Planning Commission.

But she raised little money - less than $5,000 according to the most recent campaign report - and had complained about a lack of support from establishment Democrats.

"How did I do it? I did it on my record," Fallon said. "I don't believe you need a lot of money. We sent out one letter asking for money and didn't send another."

Her campaign consultant, Dan McCorkle, said Fallon won with "100 yard signs and no Web site."

He said the win by Pickering shows that Foxx had "extensive coattails."

Republican Curtis Watkins, a Duke Energy project manager, finished sixth. He had raised more than $31,000.

Other newcomers

The City Council will have two other new members, both Democrats.LaWana Mayfield won the District 3 race over Ed Toney, and John Autry defeated Dennis Peterson in District 5.

Mayfield replaces Democrat Warren Turner, whom she defeated in the party primary. Mayfield will become the city's first openly gay council member.

"I took nothing for granted," Mayfield said. "We were still at knocking on doors, phone-banking. We made it to all 15 of our precincts today."

Autry replaces Democrat Nancy Carter, who decided not to run again.

Democrats Michael Barnes and Patsy Kinsey also won re-election easily. James Mitchell, Andy Dulin and Warren Cooksey were unopposed in Tuesday's election.

Jockeying for mayor pro tem

Cannon and Howard were jockeying to see who would finish first among at-large candidates - an advantage that gives that council member the inside track to being mayor pro tem.

Cannon finished first with more than 52,000 votes, ahead of Howard's roughly 47,000 votes.

"People understand that we're not in the business of serving just to serve," Cannon said.