Charlotte Democratic Mayor Vi Lyles easily won reelection Tuesday, getting 70% of the vote over Republican Terrie Donovan’s 25.8% with nearly all votes reported.
She was a heavy favorite in Charlotte, which hasn't elected a Republican mayor since Pat McCrory in the 2000s. Libertarian Rob Yates trailed in third with (3.59%).
In addition to winning reelection, Lyles secured another victory when the transportation sales tax referendum passed. The mayor has pushed for years for the multi-billion-dollar plan for more roads, buses and trains. With the tax approved, political observers believe this will be her last term.
The last two years have been difficult for the mayor. The city has suffered through controversies such as the August murder of Iryna Zarutska on the Lynx Blue Line and a $305,000 settlement with outgoing police chief Johnny Jennings.
But those problems didn’t appear to dent the mayor’s popularity much. She won in 2023 with 74% of the vote.
Democrats — incumbents Dimple Ajmera, Victoria Watlington, James "Smuggie" Mitchell and LaWana Slack-Mayfield — also won the races for City Council's four at-large seats.
Ajmera finished first, narrowly ahead of Watlington. Mitchell and Slack-Mayfield were third and fourth.
Republican Edwin Peacock III trailed in fifth place, with 10% of the vote. Republicans have not held an at-large seat in Charlotte since 2011, when Peacock last occupied a seat.
Results from the other City Council districts include:
- District 1
- Democrat Dante Anderson (D, unopposed)
- District 2
- Democrat Malcolm Graham (D, unopposed)
- District 3
- Joi Mayo (D): 73.73%
- James Bowers (R): 15.85%
- Robin Emmons (I): 10.35%
- District 4
- Renee Johnson (D, unopposed)
- District 5
- J.D. Mazuera Arias (D, unopposed)
- District 6
- Kimberly Owens (D): 56.45%
- Krista Bokhari (R): 43.43%
- District 7
- Ed Driggs (R, unopposed)
