Multi-term Mecklenburg County commissioner won’t run for reelection in 2026
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Laura Meier will not seek another term in office.
Meier, a Democrat first elected in 2020 to represent south Mecklenburg’s District 5, said at Tuesday’s county commission meeting she will not run for reelection in 2026.
“This has been a deeply personal and difficult choice, because serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me,” she said.
Meier, 56, vowed to finish her current term but said now “is the right time to make space for new leadership and fresh ideas.”
“There is a whole younger generation out there that are waiting to make a difference,” she said.
Attorney Charles DeLoach announced his intention to run in District 5 in 2026 Tuesday morning. DeLoach is a co-founder of CLT Engage, which works to get younger people involved in politics, and former vice chair of the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party.
“I’m running because I can deeply about Mecklenburg County and believe every generation, especially young families like mine, deserve a voice in shaping our future,” he said in a statement. “I hope to add my energy and perspective as a young parent to the incredible team of leaders currently serving on the County Commission.”
Meier said Tuesday’s meeting may have seemed like an “odd time” to make her announcement given U.S. Border Patrol’s controversial ongoing operation in the county, “but for various reasons, I need to go ahead and do this.” County commissioners read a proclamation in support of Charlotte’s immigrant community at Tuesday’s meeting and heard from multiple residents about their concerns with Border Patrol’s arrests.
“After the gut-wrenching last few days of watching our friends and our neighbors, our brothers, our sisters, become terrorized, I’m committed to serving this community more than ever,” Meier said. “And having said that, as you all know, one doesn’t have to be elected to serve the community.”
Meier won reelection to a third two-year term in 2024, defeating Republican Art McCulloch by a margin of 55.5% to 44.5%.
Before taking office, she worked as a campaign manager and volunteer. Meier previously served on the boards of Charlotte Women’s March, Cops and Barbers and Lillian’s List.
Her fellow commissioners gave her a standing ovation and praised her passion for the community from the dais after Meier made her announcement.
“When I first met Commissioner Meier, she was a community activist, and those are her roots,” Vice Chair Leigh Altman said. “And it’s been amazing to watch you in leadership. I know that you will continue just where you began, and that is serving the community.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM.
