Control of the City Council will flip in the coming term, with Republicans winning a 5-4 majority in Tuesday’s election.

Based on unofficial results with 96 percent of the city’s precincts reporting, incumbent Republican Michael Farina, incumbent Democrat John Lanni, and Republican newcomer Ken Hopkins led the field of six hopefuls for three available citywide seats. The GOP is picking up one citywide seat with Democrat Richard Santamaria, the council’s vice president, departing due to term limits.

In Ward 4, Republican Trent Colford – currently a member of the School Committee – defeated incumbent Democrat Mario Aceto with all four precincts reporting. That offset a loss in Ward 2, where Democratic newcomer Paul McAuley unseated incumbent Republican Don Botts.

Ward 1 Democrat Steven Stycos, Ward 3 Democrat Paul Archetto, Ward 5 Republican Chris Paplauskas, and Ward 6 Republican Michael Favicchio all won re-election.

For Hopkins, the victory was “bittersweet” following the recent passing of his mother.

“She was the driving force for me to make sure we finished strong,” he said.

Of the campaign, Hopkins – who was the first candidate to announce his bid – said: “It’s an exciting night. We worked hard for a long, long time.”

“I’m very excited for the people of Cranston,” Colford said at Mayor Allan Fung’s Chapel View headquarters. “I’m not in it for me, I’m in it for them.”

At the local Democratic gathering at 39 West restaurant on Phenix Avenue, McAuley said he felt a “little stunned.”

“I’m a team player so I’m a bit disappointed too, because there’s some good people that I would have loved to work with. I’ll work with anyone,” he said. “I thank Councilman Botts for the last four years of serving the Cranston community. But I’m going to work for everyone in my ward whether they supported me or whether they worked for my opponent, I’m going to be there for everyone. It’s a fresh start and I want to get to work right away.”

Farina, who switched his party affiliation early this year, was the top vote-getter in the citywide field for the third consecutive cycle. This will be his third term.

Based on unofficial results with 96 percent of the local precincts report, Farina had received 14,790 votes, or more than 20 percent of those cast. Lanni – the current council president –followed with 13,070 votes, or 18 percent, with Hopkins third at 12,369 votes, or roughly 17 percent.

Democrat Kate Aubin placed fourth with 11,428 votes, or nearly 16 percent, followed by Democrat Lammis Vargas with 10,982 votes, or just more than 15 percent. Republican Louis Petrucci received 9,729 votes, more than 13 percent.

“It’s bittersweet,” Lanni said at the Democratic celebration. “I’m glad that I won, of course. I had hoped to get the majority on the city council … But, I’ve always been able to work with Republicans and Democrats. I don’t feel that there will be any major changes. We’re all doing what’s best for the city.

“I’m really happy about the campaign we ran, and honestly, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but I’m happy with the campaign we ran and everyone who came out to support me,” Aubin said. “And I’m so, so happy that Paul McAuley won … he’s a good man and we really need him.”

McAuley garnered 2,692 votes, or 54 percent, to Botts’ 2,285, or nearly 46 percent, in his victory. Colford receives 3,439 votes, or roughly 52 percent, to Aceto’s 3,108, or roughly 47 percent.

Stycos easily won a fourth term, topping his Republican challenger, Stephen Gillissie, by a 3,919-1,384 margin, roughly 74 percent to 26 percent.

Archetto, who serves as council majority leader, won what will be his fifth and final consecutive term. He defeated longtime radio personality Johnrita Bina, the Republican candidate, by a 2,606-1,134 margin.

In Ward 5, Paplauskas topped Democratic challenger Stephen Ciambrone by a wide margin, 3,569-2,208, or roughly 62-38 percent. In Ward 6, Favicchio defeated Democratic challenger Sherry Ferinandi by a 3,000-1,799 margin, or roughly 62-37 percent.

In the sole contest race for school committee, to fill Colford’s Ward 4 seat, Vincent Turchetta Jr. defeated Amy Ricci 3,105-2,707, or roughly 53 percent to 46 percent.

Voters also approved all three local bond questions – one for roads and infrastructure, one for fire facilities and equipment, and one for city building improvements – by wide margins.

Chief of Police Michael Winquist on Tuesday afternoon said voting in the city had been running smoothly. Several officers were monitoring polling places to ensure there were no incidents or violations of election laws, he said.

“So far, so good,” he said.

(Tim Forsberg contributed to this report)