2025 Charlotte mayoral election

2025 Charlotte mayoral election

November 4, 2025
 
Candidate Vi Lyles Terrie Donovan
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 92,537 33,533
Percentage 70.45% 25.53%

Precinct results
Lyles:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      ≥90%
Donovan:      40–50%      50–60%
     No data

Mayor before election

Vi Lyles
Democratic

Elected mayor

Vi Lyles
Democratic

The 2025 Charlotte mayoral election was held on November 4, 2025, to elect the Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina to a two-year term. The primary election was held on September 9, 2025.[1] Incumbent mayor Vi Lyles was re-elected to a fifth consecutive term.[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Declined

Endorsements

Vi Lyles
Individuals
Organizations
Newspapers
Brendan Maginnis
Trade unions

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of September 2, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Gemini Boyd (D) $2,422 $1,952 $470
Vi Lyles (D) $88,975 $52,745 $99,712
Source: Mecklenburg County Board of Elections[8]

Results

Democratic primary[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vi Lyles (incumbent) 27,592 70.74
Democratic Brendan Maginnis 4,751 12.18
Democratic Jaraun "Gemini" Boyd 3,922 10.05
Democratic Tigress McDaniel 1,635 4.19
Democratic Delter Guin III 1,107 2.84
Total votes 39,009 100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

  • Terrie Donovan, real estate businesswoman[10]

Withdrawn

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of September 2, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Terrie Donovan (R) $967[a] $536 $431
Source: Mecklenburg County Board of Elections[8]

Third-party and independent candidates

Libertarian Party

  • Rob Yates, nominee for mayor in 2023[4]

General election

Post-primary endorsements

Vi Lyles (D)

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 20, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Terrie Donovan (R) $42,474[a] $23,889 $18,585
Vi Lyles (D) $110,059 $65,127 $108,414
Source: Mecklenburg County Board of Elections[8]

Results

2025 Charlotte mayoral election[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Vi Lyles (incumbent) 92,537 70.45
Republican Terrie Donovan 33,533 25.53
Libertarian Rob Yates 4,717 3.59
Write-in 555 0.42
Total votes 131,342 100.00

Notes

  1. ^ a b $100 of this total was self-funded by Donovan

References

  1. ^ DeVayne, Richard. "Candidate filing kicks off in Charlotte with 2025 elections in view". WCNC-TV. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  2. ^ Puente, Nathaniel (November 4, 2025). "Vi Lyles wins Charlotte mayoral race for 5th straight time". WCNC. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  3. ^ Ramsey, Mary (July 10, 2025). "Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will seek fifth term in 2025 reelection bid". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e Sands, Alexandria. "Who's running for Charlotte City Council in 2025". Axios. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Harrison, Steve. "Jennifer Roberts won't run for Charlotte mayor". WFAE. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Full list: see who's scoring endorsements in 2025 Charlotte City Council primary". Charlotte Observer. September 3, 2025.
  7. ^ "EMILYs List Endorses Eileen Higgins and Vi Lyles in Mayoral Races". EMILY's List. August 27, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Campaign Finance Reports". Mecklenburg County Campaign Finance Report Search. Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. Archived from the original on December 25, 2025. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  9. ^ "CITY OF CHARLOTTE MAYOR - DEM (VOTE FOR 1)". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Kay, Julie; Grosch, Sarah. "Republican Terrie Donovan joins Charlotte mayoral race against Vi Lyles". WCNC-TV. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  11. ^ "Charlotte Observer endorsements: Our choices in mayor, city council races". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  12. ^ "11/04/2025 OFFICIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION RESULTS - MECKLENBURG". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved November 5, 2025.