Who is (and isn’t) running for Raleigh mayor and City Council
Update Aug. 13, 2022: Find the final list of candidates for the Raleigh City Council elections here.
Filing for the nonpartisan Raleigh City Council election is just under a month away.
And while there are other local, state and federal races happening at the same time, let’s talk about it anyway.
For starters, it should have already happened. The city’s elections are usually held in October of odd-numbered years. But a delay in the U.S. Census Bureau releasing redistricting data meant that wasn’t going to happen.
Raleigh could have held its election in the upcoming primary like Cary and other cities are doing, but that’s not happening either.
Instead, the Raleigh City Council voted in closed session to ask the legislature to permanently move its elections to even-numbered years.
The change means some candidates have been running for elected office for over a year — and some have dropped out in the meantime.
There is still time for things to shift around. The city won’t get its final list of candidates for the Nov. 8 election until the filing period, which begins July 1 and ends July 15.
Until then, here’s our best look at who is and isn’t running.
Did we miss someone? Filing is still months away so we know more people might come forward. Email reporter Anna Johnson at ajohnson@newsobserver.com if you’re running.
Mayor
Yes
Incumbent Mary-Ann Baldwin is running for re-election. She was elected mayor in 2019 and previously served five terms on the City Council from 2007 to 2017.
She is being challenged by Terrance Ruth, an education consultant at N.C. State University.
At-large
The council has two at-large seats voted on by the entire city.
Yes
Incumbent Jonathan Melton is seeking re-election and held a campaign kick-off event planned May 4.
Council member Stormie Forte currently represents District D and officially announced she is pursuing one of the at-large seats.
Others running are James Bledsoe and Portia Rochell , both making their second bid for an at-large seat, and Joshua Bradley, who ran for District A in 2019.
No
Incumbent Nicole Stewart announced late last year she would not seek a third term. She recently joined the A.J. Fletcher Foundation as its new director of engagement.
Kristen Havlik had planned to seek an at-large seat but dropped out in October due to a conflict with her job.
District A
District A makes up North Raleigh and is one of the city’s five districts.
Yes
Mary Black, an organizer with Climate Action North Carolina, is making her first bid for the North Raleigh seat.
So is attorney Cat Lawson, a senior lecturing fellow at Duke University.
No
Incumbent Patrick Buffkin ran unsuccessfully for state Senate District 13 in the Democratic primary in March. He announced in June he would not file for re-election to his council seat.
District B
District B makes up northeast Raleigh and is one of the city’s five districts.
Yes
Minu Lee, an N.C. State University student expected to graduate in 2022, is running for his first political office.
No
Incumbent David Cox announced at a district town hall meeting he doesn’t plan to run for re-election.
Mark Farnsworth created a political committee to run but recently said he’s changed his mind.
District C
District C makes up southeast Raleigh and is one of the city’s five districts.
Yes
Incumbent Corey Branch is running for re-election. He was first elected in 2015.
Frank Fields, a first-time candidate who owns a local mobile detailing business, and Wanda Hunter, who ran for the district seat in 2019, are both running against him.
District D
District D makes up southwest Raleigh and is one of the city’s five districts.
Yes
Jane Harrison, a coastal economics specialist for North Carolina Sea Grant, is running for her first political office.
As is Jennifer Truman, a designer at Matthew Konar Architect.
No
Council member Stormie Forte currently represents District D but confirmed she will seek an at-large seat instead of the district seat.
District E
District E makes up northwest Raleigh and is one of the city’s five districts.
Yes
Incumbent David Knight is running for re-election.
Christina Jones, a substitute teacher, confirmed she is also running for the northwest Raleigh seat.
This story was updated at 7:10 p.m. April 26 to correct the district locations.
This story was originally published April 26, 2022 at 12:33 PM.
