Planning board chairman Branden Mazer has won at-large seat on the Portland City Council. The winner was selected by drawing a name from an antique bowl after the race ended in a two-way tie following a ranked-choice runoff.

Based on the city charter, the race came down to “a method of making a decision or selection by choosing something, often slips of paper, at random.”

Each candidate received 8,529 votes. Mazer was tied with school board member Roberto Rodriguez, who finished first when the votes were initially tallied.

Roberto Rodriguez immediately requested a recount after Mazer was named the winner.

It’s believed to be the first time a winner was decided by drawing lots in an American ranked-choice election.