SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Salt Lake City councilwoman who rose to prominence fighting pollution has taken an early lead in the race to become the next mayor.

Erin Mendenhall won 59 percent of the vote in the first round of ballots released shortly after polls closed. State Sen. Luz Escamilla, who is aiming to be the city’s first Latina mayor, has received about 41 percent.

The two Democrats are already in the first all-female contest to lead the capitol city, a liberal-leaning island in deeply conservative Utah.

The winner will replace Jackie Biskupski, the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor who decided not to run again due to an unspecified family situation.