Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will run for reelection
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Lyles campaigns for Kamala Harris at Bojangles Colisieum in Charlotte in 2024. Photo: Allison Joyce/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announced Thursday she will run for a fifth term in the 2025 municipal election.
Why it matters: Lyles, Charlotte's first Black female mayor known for her business-friendly approach and focus on economic inequality, has steered the city through major corporate relocations and expansions, the pandemic, significant population growth, and now a transformative transit plan.
- Lyles dominated her past reelections in Charlotte, a Democratic stronghold. Potential mayoral candidates — who've been waiting to see if Lyles would step aside — will likely reconsider running now.
The big picture: Her campaign announcement comes as Charlotte and Mecklenburg County make strides in their transportation ambitions, which Lyles has worked on for years. Lyles has advocated to modernize the city's bus system since the day she took office in 2017. She also formed the task force, led by former mayor Harvey Gantt, that drafted the original transit plan in 2020, which the city is trying to execute.
- The Red Line commuter rail connecting Uptown to north Mecklenburg, in particular, could become her legacy if it comes to fruition.
What she's saying: "From expanding affordable housing to improving public safety and investing in our infrastructure, we are delivering real results," Lyles said in a statement. "But there is still work to do — and I'm ready to keep doing it."
Flashback: In 2023, Lyles defeated her Democratic opponent in the primaries with about 85% of the votes. Her general election challengers weren't much of a match either — she won with roughly 74% of the votes.
- Before becoming mayor, Lyles served two consecutive terms in an at-large seat on the Charlotte City Council and was elected mayor pro tem in 2015. She worked in the city's budget department and served as an assistant city manager before retiring.
The other side: Charlotte City Council has had a turbulent past few months, prompting some community members to question whether a change in city leadership is necessary. Perhaps most notably, Charlotte City Council recently agreed to settle a potential lawsuit with its retiring police chief for $305,000 in taxpayer dollars.
- The decision was made behind closed doors and revealed in the media. Republican state auditor Dave Boliek launched an investigation into transparency issues.
What's next: Lyles will file on Wednesday at noon at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.