Cornelius will need a new mayor.

Mayor Jeff Tarte will head to Raleigh in January after taking a win in Tuesday's runoff election for the N.C. Senate District 41 seat against John Aneralla. Tarte won with 51.24 percent of the 8,205 votes cast.

Tarte won by 203 votes.

Since no Democrat ran in the May 8 Primary election, Tarte has no challenger in the November general election.

Cornelius commissioners still have to determine what to do about filling Tarte's role as mayor. (See related story)

- Courtney Price