“I’m glad I’m not a candidate anymore,” Iskovitz said.

Simmons, who will join the council after 10 years on the School Committee, was smiling and hugging her supporters with tears in her eyes as she realized she had won a council seat.

“This is the culmination of 10 years working in the community,” Simmons said. “Democracy takes time.”

Simmons said she already has set her goals.

“I want to work with small businesseses, I want to work with affordable housing,” Simmons said. “It’s going to be hard work but I’m a hard worker.”

Jumping up in the air as she saw her daughter and faithful campaign volunteer Jada D. Simmons, the new councillor yelled, “I love this girl, I love her.”

“Cambridge deserves her,” Jada Simmons said of her mother.

The Pitkin campaign—hoping for official results to throw the election their way—kept the same upbeat tone.

“Everybody here feels it was a hell of an effort and nobody’s hanging their

heads,” Pitkin said.

—Andrew S. Holbrook contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Lauren R. Dorgan can be reached at dorgan@fas.harvard.edu.