Multiple incumbents win Charlotte City Council primaries in district, at large races
Incumbents largely coasted to victory in multiple Charlotte City Council primaries Tuesday.
Much of the attention headed into Election Day was on Tiawana Brown’s quest to keep her seat amid a federal indictment over alleged misuse of COVID-19 relief funds and Marjorie Molina’s heated primary campaign.
But multiple other Democratic districts were up for grabs, too.
Many of the Democratic primary victors will be unopposed in the general election, meaning Tuesday’s win secured their council seats for the next term. And a quartet of at-large Democrats appeared to lock down their spots representing the party on the November ballot.
In the city’s lone Republican primary, south Charlotte’s District 6, a familiar name looked to easily defeat a newcomer to represent the GOP in a fight for a hotly contested open seat in November.
Incumbent appears to win primary rematch in District 4
Incumbent District 4 Council member Renee Perkins Johnson faced a familiar foe in her Democratic primary, housing developer Wil Russell for the second straight election cycle.
With all precincts reporting, Johnson led Russell by a margin of 67.9% to 32.2%.
Russell gained attention in 2023 for picking up an endorsement from Mayor Vi Lyles, but Johnson ultimately won a testy race 52.3% to 40.9%.
The pair renewed their tensions at a candidate forum this year.
Johnson is unopposed in the general election.
Crowded field produces no drama in Democratic at-large primary
All four current at-large City Council members appeared to secure reelection despite facing multiple challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
Incumbents Dimple Ajmera, James “Smuggie” Mitchell, LaWana Slack-Mayfield and Victoria Watlington all had the advantage of name recognition from multiple terms in office.
But some in the newcomers slate — made up of Matt Britt, Will Holley, Emerson Stoldt and Namrata “N.Y.” Yadav — outperformed the incumbents in fundraising in the final weeks of the primary campaign.
With all precincts reporting, Ajmera led the pack with 20.8%% of the vote, followed by Slack-Mayfield, Mitchell, Watlington, Yadav, Britt, Holley and Stoldt.
The top four vote getters advance to the general election, where they will face Republicans Edwin Peacock III and Misun Kim.
New Bokhari takes Republican primary for open District 6 seat
Former state House candidate Krista Bokhari faced political newcomer Sary Chakra in a Republican primary for the open District 6 council seat representing parts of south Charlotte.
With all precincts reporting, Bokhari led Chakra by a margin of 76.1% to 23.9%.
Her husband, Tariq Bokhari, vacated the seat earlier this year to take on a job in the Trump administration. Krista Bokhari applied to be appointed to finish out her spouse’s term and picked up endorsements from many in her party during that process. Lyles broke a tie to appoint Peacock instead. Peacock is now running for an at-large seat.
Krista Bokhari lost her first bid for public office last year in a run for state House District 104, in south Charlotte, but got attention for outperforming others on the GOP slate.
She’ll face Democrat Kimberly Owens in the general election. That November race is likely to draw plenty of attention, with Republicans narrowly holding the seat by less than 400 votes in each of the last two elections.
Mayor pro tem faces challenger in Democratic District 1 primary
Mayor Pro Tem Danté Anderson faced a primary challenge from Charlene Henderson El in District 1, which includes parts of uptown, NoDa and Plaza Midwood.
With all precincts reporting, Anderson led Henderson El by a margin of 68.6% to 31.4%.
Anderson was first elected to the City Council in 2022 and is in her first term as mayor pro tem. Henderson El has run for multiple City Council seats before but never advanced past the primary stage.
Anderson is unopposed in the general election.
Who’s unopposed in 2025 Charlotte City Council primary?
A pair of Charlotte City Council incumbents didn’t face primary challengers in the 2025 election cycle, District 2 representative Malcolm Graham and District 7 representative Ed Driggs.
Graham, a Democrat whose district includes parts of uptown and north Charlotte, also doesn’t have a Republican opponent in November. But an unaffiliated candidate, Lia White, is trying to get enough signatures to get on the general election ballot in the district.
Driggs, a Republican representing south Charlotte, is unopposed in the general election.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM.
