‘We won.’ Former State Treasurer Janet Cowell wins Raleigh’s race for mayor
With a commanding lead Tuesday night, former State Treasurer Janet Cowell informally declared herself Raleigh’s next mayor well before the final votes came in.
“While they have not called it, I’m comfortable calling it, that we won,” Cowell told supporters at a watch party at Birdie’s restaurant in downtown Raleigh.
She thanked supporters who worked at polls and faith leaders of Raleigh’s churches, synagogues and mosques.
By the time all the precincts reported Tuesday, Cowell had finished with 60% of the votes, a percentage that had held relatively steady since the first results trickled in. Paul Fitts finished in a distant second place with 18% of the votes.
“Whatever happens up ballot, I’m certainly going to be working to ensure that Raleigh is a city that works for everyone,” Cowell said. “A place of opportunity and empowerment, of safety and belonging, of collaboration, of nature, of green spaces.”
Cowell, who is also a former member of the state Senate and Raleigh City Council, raised and spent half a million dollars, nearly 20 times what Fitts raised.
Five candidates entered the race after current Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin chose not to seek a third term.
Finishing behind Cowell and Fitts were Terrance Ruth (11%), Eugene Myrick (6%), and James Shaughnessy (4%).
In comments broadcast on WRAL, Cowell thanked her opponents for offering “their vision and ideas for the city of Raleigh” and all those who had run for the council.
“I have certainly heard from you and agree that there were many good ideas and perspectives, and those need to be incorporated into the agenda for the city of Raleigh,” she said.
The mayor and seven City Council members will serve two-year terms. In 2026, the terms will move to four years.
City Council races
▪ At-large
Incumbents Stormie Forte (29%) and Jonathan Melton (24%) defeated challengers James Bledsoe, Reeves Peeler, Katie Pate, Joshua Bradley and Robert Steele Jr.
Forte, a licensed attorney and real estate agent, is a Raleigh native who has been on the City Council since 2020, when she was appointed to represent District D. Two years ago, she emerged from a seven-person field to win one of two at-large seats with 23% of the vote and 10,000 more votes than Melton, a lawyer and mediator who took the second seat in that race.
Melton, who serves as mayor pro tem, has now won his third at-large term.
Trailing the incumbents were James Bledsoe (14%), Reeves Peeler (10%), Kate Pate (9%), Joshua Bradley (8%) and Robert Steel Jr. (5%)
▪ District A (North Raleigh)
Urban planner and former Raleigh Planning Director Mitchell Silver (40%) defeated Whitney Hill (33%) and first-term incumbent Mary Black (26%).
▪ District B (Northeast Raleigh)
Incumbent Megan Patton (54%) defeated Jennifer McCullom (45%).
▪ District C (Southeast Raleigh)
Incumbent Corey Branch (40%) defeated six opponents after initially considering a bid for mayor, then deciding to run for his district seat. This will be his fifth term.
Branch was followed by Tolulope Omokaiye (20%) DaQuanta Copeland (10%), Portia Rochelle (9%), Tomara DeCosta (8%), Jared Ollison (7%) and Daniel Grant-King (5%).
▪ District D (Southwest Raleigh)
Incumbent Jane Harrison, a coastal economics specialist for N.C. Sea Grant, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program based at N.C. State University, ran unopposed.
▪ District E (Northwest Raleigh)
First-term incumbent Christina Jones (51.5%) defeated John Cerqueira (48%).
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 9:32 PM.