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 the precincts shows support was lagging 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.

More election results

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1. Senior Business Officer, Academic Planning and Operations at UNC Charlotte.
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Election night brought notable wins for the local Democratic party.

Why it matters: On Charlotte City Council, a longtime Republican seat was flipped to blue. Also, the board of education will now be all Democrats.

State of play: 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.

• All four Democratic at-large members (Dimple Ajmera, LaWana Slack-Mayfield, James "Smuggie" Mitchell and Victoria Watlington) held onto their seats, overcoming two Republican challengers.
• Joi Mayo won District 3. 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.
• Ed Driggs, who was unopposed in District 7, will be the council's lone GOP member.

The intrigue: In arguably the city's most competitive race, Kimberly Owens historically turned a longstanding Republican council seat into a Democratic one in District 6. She bested Krista Bokhari, wife of former council member Tariq Bokhari, by 3,745 votes.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education races are nonpartisan, with residents electing one representative to their district.

Here are the results:

✏️ Board of Education District 1: Charlitta Hatch, the Democrat in the race with the local party's endorsement, ousted sitting school board member Melissa Easley, also a Democrat.

🏫 Board of Education District 2: Shamaiye Haynes will succeed Thelma Byers-Bailey, who chose not to run again.

✏️ Board of Education District 4: Stephanie Sneed, the school board's chair, protected her position against two challengers.

🏫 Board of Education District 5: Cynthia Stone, a Democrat, will take Republican Lisa Cline's place on the school board after winning 56.80% of the votes.

✏️ Board of Education District 6: Anna London, president and CEO of Charlotte Works, beat out two other candidates. She'll be a fresh face on the board, taking the seat of Summer Nunn, who did not seek reelection.

• With London and Stone winning seats, there will be no Republicans left on Mecklenburg County's board of education.

In his last speaking engagement as police chief, Johnny Jennings admitted he's frustrated with the persistent violence in Uptown, as well as the overall perception of safety in Charlotte, especially after the fatal Aug. 22 stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the light rail.

Why it matters: Even as the killing put a national spotlight on Charlotte, Jennings has maintained a low profile since announcing his retirement in May and accepting a $305,000 settlement from the city.

The big picture: The stabbing fueled the narrative that Charlotte, particularly Uptown, is increasingly becoming unsafe.

• "I kind of felt like I was banging my head against the wall," Jennings reflected. "Every time I try to say, 'Hey, Uptown is safe' — something crazy like that would happen ... I can't keep trying to say Uptown is safe because people don't want to hear that. People's perception of Uptown is that they're not safe."

By the numbers: Although overall citywide violent crime is down 20% from last year, violence in the Uptown patrol area is up about 12%, according to Central Division statistics.

• A city the size of Charlotte should have about 2,400 to 2,500 officers, he says. It's allocated about 1,940 sworn positions.

What's next for CMPD

📅 See what's going on around the city.

• Women's Chorus of Charlotte Presents: Mama Said! at Galilee Center Thur-Sat: Advice we took, advice we ignored, and wisdom we wish we'd heard sooner. Mama Said gathers pop, Broadway, and global favorites into a heartfelt, funny, uplifting concert about the voices that shape us. Use WF25AX as a coupon code for $5 off every ticket for Axios readers.
• Beethoven 360 at Booth Playhouse Fri-Sat: Hear the story of one of the greatest composers of all time from a 360-degree viewpoint. Through music and theatrical storytelling, discover Beethoven from a whole new perspective. $47.
• Charlotte FC Playoffs Match vs. New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium Fri: Be at The Fortress for a must-win matchup as The Crown battle New York City FC in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Arrive early to score a limited-edition rally towel, presented by Atrium Health. $55+.
• Pups and Cups at Humane Society of Charlotte Sat: Don't miss Pups and Cups Tea Tasting, because cuddles and cuppas make the perfect weekend combo. $35.
• The Mystery of Holy Angels: 70th Anniversary Gala at The Revelry Camp North End Sat: Kick off the 70th Year of Holy Angels, a nonprofit supporting individuals with disabilities. Through unique entertainment, discover the heart of our mission and the lives it continues to transform. $300.
• The Central Piedmont Experience at Central Piedmont Parr Center Sat: The Central Piedmont Experience is designed for future students like you. Tour campus, meet faculty, explore programs, and get enrollment support. Enjoy breakout sessions, games, giveaways, and more.
• Stewart Creek Stream Cleanup Sat: Bring your family out and volunteer for November's 2nd Saturday Stream Clean up. Volunteers will help to clean up Stewart Creek in the Griers Grove neighborhood by removing trash and debris.
• Panthers Bud Light Backyard Tailgate at Bank of America Stadium Sun: Visit the Bud Light Backyard before each Panthers home game this season. GA is open to the public, fans can enjoy food trucks, a DJ, cornhole, football toss, & more. Must be 21+ to purchase alcohol.
• 8 over 80 at Quail Hollow Club Nov 11: Honoring 8 individuals over the age of 80 making an impact in the Charlotte community. $100.
• Young 9 Foundation Sneaker Ball at Fahrenheit Restaurant Nov 11: Don't miss the Young 9 Foundation Sneaker Ball, founded by Panthers QB Bryce Young, supporting youth mental health. Enjoy an inspiring night of style, impact, and giving. $400.

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🐣 The number of child care programs shrank in North Carolina for the first time in years. (WUNC)

🏀 The Charlotte Hornets are worth $3.8 billion, up 15% from 2024, according to Forbes' latest NBA team valuations. (🔒 CBJ)

📺 Several Hornets games will air across FanDuel Sports Network, Cox Media Group's WSOC-TV Channel 9, TV 64 and Gray Media this season. (Observer)

⚽️ North Carolina FC won't compete in next year's USL Championship season, the team announced. (Axios)

The Duke men's basketball team beat Texas 75-60 in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational at Spectrum Center last night in front of 12,435 fans.

• The Blue Devils play their first home game on Saturday against Western Carolina at 1:30pm.