Megan Barry was elected the seventh mayor of Nashville’s metropolitan government Thursday, making history as the first woman to hold the city’s top office and reaffirming Democrats’ stronghold on the nonpartisan post. Barry, who also became the first Metro Council member elected Nashville mayor, beat David Fox comfortably 55 percent to 45 percent in the runoff election — a larger margin than most observers predicted. With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Barry had 60,519 votes compared to 49,694 for Fox. Her sizable win — one that retains Metro’s power base in the mayor’s office — signals a statement in favor of the direction and politics of outgoing Mayor Karl Dean. The 51-year-old Barry, a progressive ideologically, campaigned on the mantra of keeping Nashville moving forward and continuing public investments.

The Tennessean’s metro reporter Joey Garrison recaps election night as Megan Barry was elected the next Nashville mayor. Karen Kraft / The Tennessean.