Charlotte gets a new mayor today. Here’s who could run for city’s top job in 2027
Charlotte will get a new leader at the top of city government Wednesday.
Robert Harrington is being sworn in as Charlotte’s mayor, stepping into the role after Vi Lyles’ resignation. Her last day was Tuesday. Lyles, who had led the city for nearly a decade, announced in May that she would step down, saying only that she wanted to spend more time with her family.
Harrington was appointed by the City Council to serve out the remainder of Lyles’ term, which runs through December 2027.
What Charlotte’s mayor actually does
Charlotte operates under a council-manager system. The mayor presides over City Council meetings, represents the city publicly and casts tie-breaking votes. Day-to-day operations are run by a professional city manager. The mayor’s real power comes through influence — shaping priorities on housing, transit, public safety and economic development.
How Charlotte elects its mayor
Mayoral terms run two years and elections are partisan. In practice, the race is usually decided in the Democratic primary, which is open only to registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Whoever wins that primary heads into the November general election as the heavy favorite.
The five names to know for 2027
Five of the potential contenders currently sit on the Charlotte City Council.
James Mitchell — The current mayor pro tem and longest-serving member, with 13 non-consecutive terms dating to 1999. He lost a 2013 mayoral bid to Patrick Cannon. Mitchell was the only sitting council member who applied to be interim mayor and pledged not to run in 2027 if chosen.
Dimple Ajmera — An at-large council member first appointed in 2017. She was the top citywide vote-getter in 2025 and ended that year with more than $180,000 in her campaign account, more than any colleague.
Victoria Watlington — Another at-large member. She represented west Charlotte’s District 3 for two terms beginning in 2019 before winning citywide.
Malcolm Graham — Represents District 2 in northwest Charlotte and parts of uptown. A former state senator who returned to council in 2019. Graham announced Monday he won’t seek re-election to his council seat and is exploring a mayoral run, with a decision expected in two to three months.
Dante Anderson — Represents District 1, which includes Plaza Midwood, NoDa and parts of uptown. She is the newest of the five and previously served as mayor pro tem.
It’s likely that 2027 candidates might also come from outside city government, including some of the other applicants from the interim position.
What an early poll showed
A poll commissioned by Service Employees International Union 32BJ and conducted by Public Policy Polling in April surveyed about 560 registered Charlotte voters. None of the potential candidates cracked majority favorability.
Ajmera led the field at 35%. Lyles followed at 34%, but she also drew the highest unfavorable rating at 42%. Graham polled at 43% favorability among Democrats. Mitchell and Anderson trailed further back, with Anderson at just 12% overall.
A lot of voters simply hadn’t formed opinions yet. Two-thirds said they weren’t sure how they felt about Anderson. More than half were undecided about Mitchell. Pluralities were unsure about Graham and Ajmera.
“It doesn’t surprise me. A lot of people don’t even know who their Congress person is,” said Jim Williams, a polling analyst with Public Policy Polling. “People just aren’t really plugged into local government that much unless something crazy is going on, unless there’s a scandal.”
The poll also found that about three-quarters of respondents supported requiring better wages for workers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and nearly 60% said they would be more likely to vote for a city leader who backed such a plan.
What to watch next
The real campaigning starts when candidates begin formally announcing. Graham could be among the first, depending on what his exploratory committee decides. Victoria Watlington, who wasn’t included in the April poll, could also be a contender.
For newcomers settling into the region, the 2027 race will shape decisions on growth, housing affordability, transit and the airport — issues that touch nearly every resident across Mecklenburg County and the surrounding Piedmont. As Harrington takes the oath of office Wednesday, the race to replace him is already underway.
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.
