Did you know? The mayor of Raleigh is typically decided every two years, and recent laws have changed the election process for Oak City’s highest local office. We’ve put together need-to-know details about the mayoral process in Raleigh and how it’s different this election year.
A new law enacted in 2021 declared mayoral candidates must win by a plurality rather than a majority — meaning they need more votes than any other candidate, rather than over 50% of votes. In the case of five candidates in the 2024 election, Raleigh’s next mayor could receive as little as 26% of the vote to win, and no runoffs can be requested.
As part of the same 2021 law, mayoral elections moved to even years rather than odd, and 2024 was the first during a presidential general election.
In April, Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin announced she would not seek reelection, ending her two terms at the helm of Raleigh — she received an extra year between the 2019 and 2022 elections.
To see who won the race this year, check the NC State Board of Elections’ online dashboard.
