Election results 2025: City council, school board and transit tax
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Mecklenburg County voters approved a landmark 1-cent sales tax increase projected to generate $19.4 billion over 30 years to build new rail lines, overhaul the bus system, and expand road, bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Why it matters: The measure raises the local sales tax rate from 7.25% to 8.25%, unlocking a perpetual funding source for a transformative expansion of the region's public transit network, starting with the 25-mile Red Line commuter rail from Uptown to the Lake Norman towns.
By the numbers: The referendum passed with just 52% of the votes, a difference of 7,535 ballots.
Between the lines: A map of precincts shows support lagged in the south, east and northeast outskirts of Mecklenburg County. Precinct 140 in Ballantyne resulted in a tie.
What's next: A new 27-member regional transit authority will be established to oversee spending decisions.
- Twenty percent of the revenue will go to the bus system. The rest will be split between rail and "roads" projects, which could encompass lane widenings, crosswalks, street lighting or even EV chargers.
- The tax increase goes into effect on July 1, 2026.
What they're saying: "Tonight, the people of Mecklenburg County have made a historic choice," Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement. "After years of collaboration, we now have the resources to transform transportation in our region."
The big picture: Election night brought notable wins for the local Democratic party. On Charlotte City Council, a longtime Republican seat was flipped to blue. Also, the board of education will now be all Democrats.
Below are the results of Charlotte's other competitive races.
Charlotte Mayor: Vi Lyles
Mayor Vi Lyles — a Democrat who's focused on affordable housing, transit and jobs — will serve a fifth term after quashing two opponents in a landslide. She won 70.43% of the votes.
Charlotte City Council At-Large: Incumbents sweep
All four Democratic at-large members held onto their seats, overcoming two Republican challengers.
Dimple Ajmera was the top vote getter with 21.07% of the votes, followed by:
- Victoria Watlington: 20.76%
- James "Smuggie" Mitchell: 19.66%
- LaWana Slack-Mayfield: 19.16%
Charlotte City Council District 3: Joi Mayo
Joi Mayo, who unseated indicted councilwoman Tiawana Brown in the Democratic primary, will be a freshman on council after defeating her Republican opponent and a rare unaffiliated candidate. She received 73.53% of the votes.
Charlotte City Council District 6: Kimberly Owens
In arguably the city's most competitive race, Kimberly Owens historically turned a longstanding Republican council seat into a Democratic one. She bested Krista Bokhari, wife of former council member Tariq Bokhari, by 3,745 votes (56.45%).
- Ed Driggs, who was unopposed in District 7, will be the council's lone GOP member.
Board of Education District 1: Charlitta Hatch
With 44.83% of votes, Charlitta Hatch, the Democrat in the race with the local party's endorsement, ousted sitting school board member Melissa Easley, also a Democrat.
- Republican candidate Bill Fountain was the runner-up with 29.14% of ballots cast in his favor.
Board of Education District 2: Shamaiye Haynes
Shamaiye Haynes was triumphant this time around in her quest to join the school board. She received 74.52% of the votes. Haynes will succeed Thelma Byers-Bailey, who chose not to run again.
Board of Education District 4: Stephanie Sneed
Stephanie Sneed, the school board's chair, protected her position against two challengers. Her name got a check on 62.72% of ballots.
Board of Education District 5: Cynthia Stone
Democrat Cynthia Stone will take Republican Lisa Cline's place on the school board after winning 56.80% of the votes.
- There will be no Republicans left on Mecklenburg County's board of education.
Board of Education District 6: Anna London
Anna London, president and CEO of Charlotte Works, beat out two other candidates with 49.85% of the votes. She'll be a fresh face on the board, taking the seat of Summer Nunn, who did not seek reelection.
Voter turnout: 177,735
177,735 voters (21.91%) cast ballots in this primary.
- To compare, in the November 2023 election, 15.54% of voters (120,662) came out.