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Sitting Greensboro City Council members cruised through Tuesday’s primary elections. But signs point to possible upsets in November.

Voters didn’t show overwhelming loyalty to most incumbents running for re-election, giving only one — Zack Matheny in District 3 — more than 50 percent support. The first-term councilman tallied nearly 55 percent of the vote in his district. George Hartzman, second with 33 percent, also advances to the general election ballot.

Under different election rules, a candidate could avoid a second showdown by winning a majority in initial voting, but in this system the surviving candidates start all over again.

“I’m going to hit the ground running (today),” Marikay Abuzuaiter said as she watched election returns at the Old Guilford County Courthouse Tuesday night. The second-time candidate finished sixth in at-large voting, making the cut for the general election ballot.

Former Councilwoman Nancy Barakat Vaughn led the field by more than a thousand votes, followed by incumbents Robbie Perkins and Sandra Anderson Groat. Not far behind them were Danny Thompson and Gary Nixon. The tight grouping raises the possibility that the order of finish could shift next month, when the top three will win at-large seats.

Council veteran Perkins didn’t read too much into Tuesday’s results. “It was a low turnout,” he said. “There will be a whole different electorate with the mayoral race and District 5 race (on the ballot Nov. 3).”

But challengers saw a desire by voters to shake up the City Council, which is concluding a sometimes-tumultuous two years. “We need to replace some incumbents,” Nixon said.

At-large Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw didn’t seek re-election for her seat, running instead for the District 4 office being vacated by Mike Barber. She won the primary with 49 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Joel Landau. He viewed the result as an indication that many voters aren’t happy with the current council and want a group that will work better together for common goals.

One of the strongest candidates in Tuesday’s field also represents change. Jim Kee in District 2 led Nettie Lewis Coad 52 percent to 30 percent for the seat Goldie Wells is giving up after two terms. Kee stressed economic development, public safety and environmental safety in his campaign.

“We need new ideas,” he said. “The council needs a little more harmony. We’ve got to focus on those things that unite us rather than divide us.”

Kee was one new candidate behind whom most voters did unite. The electorate seemed divided about most of the incumbents.

Tuesday’s results point to the possibility of a council makeover in November. Incumbents hoping for a strong vote of confidence will have to try again.