Who’s Running for Raleigh Mayor and City Council in 2026

Who’s running—and what to know before you vote Nov. 3.

Election season is officially upon us—and this time, Raleigh’s ballot carries some serious weight.

The rules are shifting, the terms are changing, and the outcomes will stick. So to cut through the noise of yard signs and campaign mailers flooding your mailbox, inbox and phone, we’re breaking down who’s running, what’s changing and why it actually matters. 

On Nov. 3, voters will choose a mayor and City Council members who will help steer a rapidly growing Raleigh through some of its biggest questions: housing and development, public safety, transit, Downtown’s future, and more.

And some of those choices will stick around longer than Raleigh voters are used to: Raleigh is moving to four-year staggered terms for mayor and City Council (see sidebar), with half of the council seats expiring every two years. Also vying for your vote: $203 million in proposed housing and transportation bonds. Voters will weigh two $101.5 million measures—which the city says can be issued without an additional property-tax increase—putting even more of the city’s future directly in voters’ hands.

So, yes, local elections matter—a lot. Before you head to the polls, we’re making the homework easy. Here’s your district-by-district snapshot of who’s running—and everything else you need to know to cast your ballot. See you at the polls, Raleigh. 

Early voting: Oct. 15­—31, select polling sites

Election day: Tue., Nov. 3, 6:30am—7:30pm, at your assigned
polling place

New Ballot, New Terms
4-year terms: Mayor, Districts A & B and the top-finishing
at-large candidate

2-year terms: Districts C, D & E and the second-finishing at-large candidate, before moving to four-year terms in 2028

Show Face:

• Accepted photo ID: driver’s license, student ID, state ID card, passport, tribal enrollment card or government ID. The address on the ID doesn’t have to match voter registration records. 
• No ID? No problem:
  • NC registered voters can get a free voter ID from Wake County Board of Elections through Oct. 31 or a state ID from NCDMV.
  • You can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form or taking valid photo ID to WCBE by noon on the third business day following Election Day.

Voting by mail? That too—a photocopy + the Absentee Photo ID Exception Form provided with your absentee ballot materials.

Find My District: Not sure which district you live in? We’ve got you covered. Type in your address here, where it says “Find Your Council Member and District.”

Ballot Preview: Want to preview your ballot? Registered voters can enter name/birth year here to search voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place, sample ballot when available, absentee ballot information and voter history. See the sample ballot for District E below.