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Ballotpedia covered municipal elections in 81 counties and 85 cities, including 34 mayoral elections, in 2022. As of 2022, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections included elections on the ballot in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys in each state capital.
To read about the five municipal elections that Ballotpedia designated as battlegrounds in 2022—mayoral elections in Austin, Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the nonpartisan primary for Office 67 of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, and the Democratic primary for district attorney in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina—click here.
As of 2022, Ballotpedia tracked the partisan affiliation of the mayors of the 100 largest cities and each state capital, including mayors of cities holding nonpartisan mayoral elections.
Twenty-four of the 100 largest U.S. cities held mayoral elections in 2022. Mayoral offices changed partisan control in four cities, resulting in no net change in the number of offices held by Republicans and Democrats. Once mayors elected in 2022 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 28, independents held three, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.
Eleven state capitals held mayoral elections in 2022, including eight capitals that fell outside of the top 100 cities. Ballotpedia was unable to determine the partisan affiliation of one state capital mayor who defeated a Republican incumbent in 2022. Once mayors elected in 2022 assumed office, the mayors of 38 state capitals were affiliated with the Democratic Party, five were Republicans, one was independent, and two were nonpartisan. The partisan affiliation of four state capital mayors was unknown.
On this page, you will find:
2022 municipal battleground elections
Mayoral partisanship information
Municipal elections by state and by date
Mayors of the 100 largest cities
Historical municipal election data
More local election analysis
Note: The statistics on this page do not include data from local elections in the U.S. territories.
2022 municipal battleground elections[edit]
See also: Battlegrounds
Ballotpedia designates races expected to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive or compelling as battlegrounds.
Mayoral battlegrounds[edit]
See also: United States mayoral elections, 2022
Austin, Texas
See also: Mayoral election in Austin, Texas (2022)
Kirk Watson defeated Celia Israel in the December 13, 2022, nonpartisan general runoff election for mayor of Austin, Texas. Israel and Watson, who have both served in the state legislature as Democrats, were the top-two vote-getters in the November 8, 2022, general election. Israel received 40% of the vote and Watson received 35% of the vote. To win, a candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote. This page covers the general runoff election. For coverage of the general election, click here.
Incumbent Stephen Adler did not run for re-election.
At the time of the election, Israel served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 50 as a Democrat. She assumed office in 2014. Israel said, "I have a reputation for having an open door and open mind, and I have the experience and tenacious leadership to help us find common ground at every opportunity."[1] Israel made housing affordability a central focus of her campaign. Israel said the city should use its unutilized public space to build more housing: "Austin could be doing more with its public space. It owns 6,000 tracts of land. That could be teacher housing, 911 operator housing, police housing."[2] Israel also campaigned on providing rental relief to renters, reducing parking requirements and increasing density, and making it easier for people to build accessory dwelling units on their property.[3] Israel's campaign has also focused on transportation and mobility, including pushing to "create bus lanes, and build protected bike lanes and sidewalks so everyone has a safe, affordable, and pollution-free option of moving around Austin."[4]
Watson served in the Texas State Senate, representing District 14 as a Democrat, from 2007 to 2020. He served as the mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001. Watson ran his record as mayor, saying, "I have a proven record of success in getting big things done for Austin and we're in a point in time we're no longer becoming a big city — we're a big city and we need to do big things."[5] Watson's campaign focused on housing affordability. Watson proposed changing the city's development review process to make it faster to build more housing and temporarily halving development fees.[6] Watson's housing policy plan includes a plank to allow City Council members to propose district-specific housing policies: "What my plan does is it says ‘let’s ask the districts what they want to do in order to get us more housing,’ not to block off any housing."[7] Watson has also campaigned on expanding childcare options and improving transportation.[8]
Israel and Watson disagreed on how to spend a $250 million housing bond voters approved on November 8, 2022. Israel said the city should "partner with a nonprofit who’s going to work to take our unhoused off the streets first and put them in a dignified place."[7] Watson said, "So one of my priorities would be to work with the private industry, the private developers as they're developing their projects, bring in that public money, so we would be able to together be able to buy down those units."[7]
The winner of the 2022 election will serve a two-year term, instead of the traditional four. In 2021, Austin voters approved Proposition D, a measure that aligns mayoral elections with presidential election years. Following the 2024 election, the mayor will serve a four-year term.[9]
Los Angeles, California
See also: Mayoral election in Los Angeles, California (2022)
Karen Bass defeated Rick Caruso in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Los Angeles, California, on November 8, 2022. The candidates advanced from the June 7 primary election since neither received 50% of the vote. Incumbent Mayor Eric Garcetti could not run for re-election due to term limits.
Bass was first elected to public office in 2004 to serve in the California State Assembly. She served in the Assembly from 2005 to 2010 and was speaker from 2008 to 2010. Bass was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and represented California's 37th Congressional District at the time of the mayoral election.[10] In a campaign ad, Bass said, “I’m running for mayor to meet today’s challenges: crime, homelessness, and the soaring cost of housing.”[11]
Caruso was the founder and chief executive officer of a retail complex development company.[12] He also served on Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power Commission, as the president of Los Angeles’ Police Commission, and on the USC Board of Trustees.[13] In a campaign ad, Caruso said, “I’m running for mayor because the city we love is in a state of emergency: rampant homelessness, people living in fear for their safety, and politicians at city hall just in it for themselves.”[14]
Though the election was officially nonpartisan, both candidates were registered Democrats. Caruso announced he changed his party registration from no party preference to Democrat in January 2022.[15] Bass had held elected office as a Democrat since 2005.
The New York Times' Jennifer Medina wrote that the race “has focused on voters’ worries about public safety and homelessness in the nation’s second-largest city” and could “become a test of whether voters this year favor an experienced politician who has spent nearly two decades in government or an outsider running on his business credentials.”[16]
Speaking to Axios, Bass spokeswoman Anna Bahr said, “Voters have a choice in this race — between a billionaire real estate developer who has never built a single unit of affordable housing despite 50,000 people living on our streets, and a Black community organizer who has spent her life running toward this city's crises and solving them.”[17]
Caruso Senior Advisor Peter Ragone said, “Los Angeles is in a crisis: Homeless, crime and corruption are uncontrolled. This is a moment for someone like Rick to come in and clean up City Hall.”[17]
This was the first even-year election for Los Angeles mayor since the 2015 passage of Charter Amendment 1, which shifted city elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2020.
The city of Los Angeles uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive.
Heading into 2022, the mayors of 63 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Republicans held 28 mayoral offices, independents held four, and five mayors were nonpartisan. One mayor's partisan affiliation was unknown. Heading into the election, Los Angeles had a Democratic mayor.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
See also: Mayoral election in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2022)
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson defeated Robert Donovan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's special general election for mayor on April 5, 2022.
The special election was called after Mayor Tom Barrett resigned on December 22, 2021, to become the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. Wisconsin Public Radio's Corrinne Hess wrote the special election "could mean a historic change for Milwaukee. Wisconsin’s largest city could have its first elected Black mayor, or with Donovan, have a conservative leader for the first time."[18]
The office is officially nonpartisan. Johnson said he is a Democrat.[19] When Donovan ran for mayor in 2016, a campaign representative described him as independent.[20] When asked in February 2022 if he thought Milwaukee would elect a conservative mayor, Donovan said, "I think the times are to the point where people are open to looking at some changes."[21]
Johnson first joined the Milwaukee Common Council in 2016. Council members elected him council president in 2020. Johnson said he personally experienced the city's struggles with violence and crime. Johnson emphasized his public safety plan, which he said was comprehensive and included measures to prevent violence. Johnson said he led on securing funds for 200 additional police officers. He criticized Donovan's public safety plan as being outdated.
Donovan served on the council from 2000 to 2020. He lost the 2016 mayoral election to Barrett 30% to 70%. Donovan campaigned on his experience on the council and his past chairmanship of the Public Safety Committee and the Anti-Graffiti Policy Committee. Donovan highlighted his public safety plan, including increasing police staffing and foot and bicycle patrols, and criticized Johnson by saying the city experienced its worst bout of violence during Johnson's time as council president.
The city charter states the council president serves as acting mayor in the event of a vacancy.[22]
Other municipal battlegrounds[edit]
Superior Court of Los Angeles County Office 67
See also: Superior Court of Los Angeles County election, 2022 (Office 67 June 7 nonpartisan primary)
Fernanda Maria Barreto and Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes advanced to a nonpartisan Nov. 8 runoff for Office 67 of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County after finishing as the top two vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary over a third candidate, Ryan Dibble.
While the race was officially nonpartisan, meaning candidates appeared on the ballot without party labels, all three candidates were endorsed by at least one organization affiliated with the Democratic Party.[23][24][25]
The Los Angeles Times' editorial board wrote, "For many years, the most successful judicial candidates were prosecutors, presumably because voters believed that they would ... deal more harshly with criminal defendants," but added that "[t]his year there are several deputy public defenders running, an interesting development that's part of the broader movement for criminal justice reform."[26]
In the primary for Office 67, Barreto and Dibble both had prosecutorial experience, working as deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles County.[27][28] Lashley-Haynes had experience as a deputy public defender in the county's public defender office.[29]
All three candidates highlighted their respective backgrounds and endorsements.
Barreto said she "has worked tirelessly ... to protect particularly vulnerable populations by handling complex felony cases including murder, rape, and domestic violence," adding that she "has taken great pride in helping victims of crimes ... while also building a reputation as being a fair prosecutor."[27] The Los Angeles Times, the Burbank Police Officers' Association, and 21 superior court judges in the county endorsed Barreto.[23]
Dibble highlighted his experience with roles in the Major Narcotics and Hardcore Gang Divisions, saying he "worked on cases to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community for whom violence and its consequences are so devastating."[30] The Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs, the Long Beach Police Officers Association, and 38 superior court judges in the county endorsed Dibble.[24]
Lashley-Haynes said, "LA County courts have been dominated by those whose principal legal experiences have involved prosecuting offenders," saying that her experience as a public defender "provides the kind of ... perspective to begin to make Los Angeles the leader in criminal justice reform."[31] The Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Union, and four superior court judges in the county endorsed Lashley-Haynes.[25]
There are 494 judges on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, making it the largest trial court in the country. Judges serve six-year terms. Offices on the court only appear on the ballot when an incumbent judge is challenged or, in the case of Office 67, no incumbent files for re-election. In 2022, contested races were scheduled for nine of the 167 offices up for election. Click here to learn more about judicial selection in California.
Judges on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County conduct all original trials in the county, except in cases where appellate level courts have original jurisdiction. According to the court's website, "Cases range from simple traffic infractions to murders; landlord/tenant disputes to multi-million dollar lawsuits; guardianships to involuntary commitments."[32]
Fernanda Maria Barreto (Nonpartisan), Ryan Dibble (Nonpartisan), and Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes (Nonpartisan) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click on a candidate's name to view that candidate's responses.
Mecklenburg County district attorney
See also: North Carolina 26th Prosecutorial District Attorney election, 2022 (May 17 Democratic primary)
Incumbent Spencer Merriweather defeated Tim Emry in the May 17 Democratic primary for district attorney of North Carolina's 26th Prosecutorial District in Mecklenburg County.
No Republicans ran for the office.
Gov. Roy Cooper (D) appointed Merriweather as district attorney in November 2017 after his predecessor, Andrew Murray, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.[33][34] From 2007 to 2017, Merriweather was an assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County.[35] Merriweather ran for a full term as district attorney in 2018, winning the Democratic primary 78%-22%, and was unopposed in the general election. Merriweather is the county's first Black district attorney.[36]
Merriweather said that under his leadership, the district attorney's office had "focused on the most serious and violent offenses" and that he had "implemented new strategies to confront violent crime ... creating special units that prioritize the prosecution of gun crimes, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence."[37]The Charlotte Observer's Michael Gordon wrote, "Asked what distinguishes him from Emry, Merriweather describes himself as a proven reformer who remains committed to the law, a safer community and building on what he describes as 'a career of experience serving victims.'"[38]
The Charlotte Post, which endorsed Merriweather, described him as a "thoughtful pragmatist who has balanced policy reforms and alternatives to prosecution with efforts to keep a growing urban community safe."[39] The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg also endorsed Merriweather.[40]
Emry, a criminal defense attorney, was a Mecklenburg County assistant public defender and worked for a criminal defense law firm before founding The Emry Law Firm in 2012.[41]
Emry said, "The number one pillar of our campaign is holding the police accountable when they break the law."[42] Emry said another priority would be to "immediately stop the mass incarceration policies of the current DA’s office and begin to pursue racial justice."[43] He also said he would "never seek the death penalty," saying, "Too often in this country, we have sentenced the wrong people to death. ... Well, my opponent supports the death penalty."[44]
Real Justice PAC, which says it "has been at the forefront of local elections, ushering in prosecutors who have promised to transform a criminal legal system that is racist, oppressive, and preys on the poor and marginalized," endorsed Emry.[45] The group's endorsement said, "Tim is running as a progressive challenge to the left of the incumbent. ... Merriweather, a moderate, has largely continued the same failed tough on crime policies that don’t increase public safety and lead to mass incarceration. Tim is running to bring genuine change to the criminal justice system in Mecklenburg and to end the failed status quo policies."[46]
Gordon wrote in April, "Emry is considered a significant longshot to unseat Merriweather ... Nonetheless, Emry’s campaign has been relentless in promising specific reforms and attempting to tie Merriweather to what Emry describes as a racist and destructive status quo."[38]
There are 43 prosecutorial districts in North Carolina.[47] The district attorney for the 26th Prosecutorial District has jurisdiction to prosecute non-federal crimes occurring in Mecklenburg County. The Mecklenburg County district attorney's office has the largest caseload in the state, prosecuting around 10,000 felonies and 200,000 misdemeanors or traffic violations per year.[48] Responsibilities of the district attorney include representing the state in criminal prosecutions, advising law enforcement, and overseeing assistant district attorneys, victim witness legal assistants, investigators, and other staff.[47]
Mayoral partisanship[edit]
See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2022)
Twenty-four of the 100 largest U.S. cities held mayoral elections in 2022. Once mayors elected in 2022 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 28, independents held three, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.
The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2022:
Henderson, Nevada: Michelle Romero (R) was elected to succeed outgoing mayor Debra March (D) on June 14, winning the primary outright with 76% of the vote.
Anaheim, California: Ashleigh Aitken (D) defeated Acting Mayor Trevor O'Neil (R) and two other candidates on November 8, 2022. Former mayor Harry Sidhu (R) resigned in May 2022.
Chula Vista, California: John McCann (R) defeated Ammar Campa-Najjar (D) in the November 8 election to succeed term-limited mayor Mary Salas (D).
North Las Vegas, Nevada: Pamela Goynes-Brown (D) defeated Patricia Spearman (D) in the election to succeed outgoing mayor John J. Lee (R) on November 8, 2022.[49]
Mayoral partisanship in state capitals[edit]
Eleven state capitals held mayoral elections in 2022. Six Democratic incumbents and one Republican incumbent were re-elected. Three Democrats were elected to succeed outgoing Democratic incumbents. Ballotpedia was unable to determine the partisan affiliation of one state capital mayor who defeated a Republican incumbent.
Once mayors elected in 2022 assumed office, the mayors of 38 state capitals were affiliated with the Democratic Party, five were Republicans, one was independent, and two were nonpartisan. The partisan affiliation of four state capital mayors was unknown.
Municipal elections across the United States[edit]
By state[edit]
Alabama[edit]
Jefferson County, Alabama - District attorney, sheriff, county commission, circuit court judges, and district court judges
Alaska[edit]
Anchorage, Alaska - City council (regular & special), service area boards of supervisors, superior court judges, and district court judges
Juneau, Alaska - City council
Arizona[edit]
Chandler, Arizona - Mayor, city council, and fire district board
Gilbert, Arizona - City council and fire district board
Glendale, Arizona - City council
Mesa, Arizona - City council
Phoenix, Arizona - City council
Scottsdale, Arizona - City council and fire district board
Maricopa County, Arizona - Board of supervisors, constables, county attorney (special), water conservation district board, healthcare district board, community college board, clerk of the superior court, justices of the peace, and superior court judges
Pima County, Arizona - Constables, community college district board, clerk of the superior court, justices of the peace, and superior court judges
Arkansas[edit]
Little Rock, Arkansas - Mayor and city council
California[edit]
Anaheim, California - Mayor and city council
Bakersfield, California - City council
Chula Vista, California - Mayor, city attorney, and city council
Fremont, California - City council
Fresno, California - City council
Irvine, California - Mayor and city council
Long Beach, California - Mayor, city attorney, city auditor, city prosecutor, and city council
Los Angeles, California - Mayor, city attorney, city controller, and city council
Oakland, California - Mayor, city auditor, and city council
Sacramento, California - City council
San Bernardino, California - Mayor and city council
San Diego, California - City council
San Francisco, California - Assessor-recorder (regular & special), city attorney (special), district attorney (special), public defender, board of supervisors, community college board, BART director, and superior court judges
San Jose, California - Mayor and city council
Santa Ana, California - Mayor and city council
Santa Clarita, California - City council
Stockton, California - City council
Alameda County, California - Assessor, auditor/controller, district attorney, sheriff/coroner, treasurer/tax collector, superintendent of schools, board of supervisors, county board of education, Union Sanitary District, flood control board, AC Transit District board of directors, water district board, BART board, park district board, municipal utility district, healthcare district board, community college district boards, and superior court judges
Fresno County, California - Assessor-recorder, auditor, controller/treasurer-tax collector, clerk/registrar of voters, district attorney, sheriff coroner public administrator, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, irrigation district board, recreation district board, memorial district board, water district board, utility district board, and superior court judges
Kern County, California - Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller-county clerk, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, county water agency board, community services district board, and superior court judges
Los Angeles County, California - Assessor, sheriff, county supervisor, water district board, water replenishment district board, water agency board, community college districts, and superior court judges
Orange County, California - Assessor, auditor-controller, clerk-recorder, district attorney-public administrator, sheriff-coroner, treasurer-tax collector, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college boards, water district boards, hazard abatement board, and superior court judges
Riverside County, California - Assessor-county clerk-recorder, auditor-controller, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, community services district board, sanitary district board, water district board (regular & special), and superior court judges
Sacramento County, California - Assessor, district attorney, sheriff, county board of supervisors, county board of education, water district boards, flood control district board, community college district board, municipal utility district board, fire district board, and superior court judges
San Bernardino County, California - Assessor-recorder, auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, sheriff/coroner/public administrator, superintendent of schools, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district boards, water district board, and superior court judges
San Diego County, California - Assessor/recorder/county clerk, district attorney, sheriff, treasurer/tax collector, county board of supervisors, county board of education, community college district board, municipal water district board, healthcare district boards, and superior court judges
San Joaquin County, California - Assessor-recorder-clerk, auditor-controller, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, superintendent of schools, treasurer-tax collector, county supervisors, community college board, irrigation district, water district board, fire district board, and superior court judges
Santa Clara County, California - Assessor, district attorney, sheriff, county supervisors, county board of education, community college district boards, water district board, geologic hazard abatement district board, open space authority board, and superior court judges
Colorado[edit]
Denver, Colorado - Regional transportion district board member (both regular & special), county court judge, and district court judge
Adams County, Colorado - Assessor, clerk and recorder, coroner, sheriff, treasurer, surveyor, county commission, county court judge, and district court judge
Arapahoe County, Colorado - Assessor, clerk and recorder, coroner, sheriff, treasurer, county commission, county court judge, and district court judge
El Paso County, Colorado - Assessor, clerk and recorder, coroner, sheriff, treasurer, surveyor, county commission, county court judge, and district court judge
Florida[edit]
Hialeah, Florida - City council (special)
Jacksonville, Florida - City council (special), soil & water conservation district board, community development district boards, special district boards, circuit court judges, and county court judges
Tallahassee, Florida - Mayor and city council
Hillsborough County, Florida - County board of commissioners, soil & water conservation district, circuit court judges, and county court judges
Miami-Dade County, Florida - County commission, soil & water conservation district, community development districts, circuit court judges, and county court judges
Orange County, Florida - County mayor, county commission, soil & water conservation district, circuit court judges, and county court judges
Pinellas County, Florida - State attorney, county commission, fire control district board, circuit court judges, and county court judges
Georgia[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Georgia in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
DeKalb County, Georgia - Board of commissioners, state court judges, associate state court judge, superior court judges, and soil & water conservation district board
Fulton County, Georgia - Board of commissioners, soil & water conservation board, chief magistrate judge, and state court judges
Hawaii[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Hawaii in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Honolulu, Hawaii - City council
Idaho[edit]
Ada County, Idaho - Assessor, clerk, coroner, sheriff, treasurer, county commissioners, highway district board, community college board, conservation district board, and district court magistrate judges
Illinois[edit]
Cook County, Illinois - Assessor, clerk, sheriff, treasurer, county commissioners, board of review, water reclamation board, circuit court judges, and subcircuit court judges
Indiana[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Indiana in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Indianapolis, Indiana - Marion County Assessor, Marion County Auditor, Marion County Recorder, Marion County Sheriff, prosecuting attorney, and clerk of the circuit court
Allen County, Indiana - Assessor, auditor, recorder, sheriff, county commission, county council, circuit court clerk, prosecuting attorney, and superior court judges
Kansas[edit]
Sedgwick County, Kansas - County commission and district court judges
Kentucky[edit]
Frankfort, Kentucky - City council and county attorney
Lexington, Kentucky - Mayor, urban county council, coroner, county attorney, county clerk, county judge/executive, county surveyor, sheriff, property valuation administrator, county commission, constables, magistrates, soil & water conservation district, district court judges, and circuit court judges
Louisville, Kentucky - Mayor, metro council, coroner, county attorney, county clerk, county judge/executive, county commission, jailer, property valuation administrator, sheriff, surveyor, constables, county soil & water district, circuit court judges, circuit family court judges, district court judges, and justices of the peace
Louisiana[edit]
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - Metro Council and judicial court judge
New Orleans, Louisiana - City court clerk, city court judges, and municipal and traffic court judges
Maine[edit]
Augusta, Maine - City council and district attorney
Maryland[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Maryland in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Baltimore, Maryland - Register of wills, sheriff, state's attorney, circuit court clerk, circuit court judges, and orphans' court judges
Massachusetts[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Massachusetts in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Boston, Massachusetts - City council
Suffolk County, Massachusetts - District attorney and sheriff
Michigan[edit]
Detroit, Michigan - Community advisory council (special) and regular
Lansing, Michigan - City council
Wayne County, Michigan - County executive, sheriff, county commissioners, community college board, circuit court judges, district court judges, and probate court judges
Minnesota[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Minnesota in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Hennepin County, Minnesota - County attorney, county sheriff, county commission, county park commission, and judicial offices
Ramsey County, Minnesota - Attorney, sheriff, county commission, and District court judges
Missouri[edit]
Jefferson City, Missouri - City council
St. Louis, Missouri - Collector of revenue, license collector, recorder of deeds, community college board, and board of aldermen (special)
Clay County, Missouri - Auditor, prosecuting attorney, county commission, community college board, and circuit court judges
Jackson County, Missouri - County executive, county legislature, community college board, and circuit court judges and associate judges
Douglas County, Nebraska - Assessor-register of deeds, attorney, engineer, sheriff, treasurer, county commission, community college board, Nebraska educational service unit board, learning community coordinating council board, metropolitan utilities district board, natural resources district board, clerk of the district court, county court judges, district court judges, separate juvenile court judge, and Nebraska workers’ compensation court judge
Lancaster County, Nebraska - Assessor/register of deeds, attorney, clerk, engineer, public defender, sheriff, treasurer, county commission, natural resources district board, community college district board, Educational Service Unit No. 6 Board of Directors, clerk of district court, district court judge, district county court judges, juvenile court judges, and Nebraska workers’ compensation court judges
Nevada[edit]
Carson City, Nevada - City council and district attorney
Henderson, Nevada - Mayor, city council, constable, and municipal court judge
Las Vegas, Nevada - City council and municipal court judge
North Las Vegas, Nevada - Mayor, city council, constable, and municipal court judge
Reno, Nevada - Mayor, city attorney, city council, and municipal court judge
Clark County, Nevada - Assessor, clerk, district attorney, public administrator, recorder, treasurer, county commission, district court judges, and justices of the peace
Washoe County, Nevada - Assessor, clerk, district attorney, public administrator, recorder, sheriff, treasurer, county commission, and justices of the peace
New Jersey[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in New Jersey in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Newark, New Jersey - Mayor and city council
Trenton, New Jersey - Mayor and city council
Essex County, New Jersey - County executive
Hudson County, New Jersey - County clerk and sheriff
New Mexico[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in New Mexico in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Bernalillo County, New Mexico - Assessor, sheriff, county commissioners, county court judges, and probate court judges
New York[edit]
Buffalo, New York - Chief judge of city court and city court judges
Bronx County, New York - Civil court judges and supreme court judges
Erie County, New York - County clerk, family court judge, and supreme court judges
Kings County, New York - Civil court judges and supreme court judges
New York County, New York - Civil court judges, supreme court judge, and surrogate's court judge
Queens County, New York - Civil court judges and supreme court judges
Richmond County, New York - Civil court judge and supreme court judges
North Carolina[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in North Carolina in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Charlotte, North Carolina - Mayor and city council
Greensboro, North Carolina - Mayor and city council
Raleigh, North Carolina - Mayor and city council
Durham County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Forsyth County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Guilford County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judges
Wake County, North Carolina - District attorney, sheriff, county commissioners, soil and water district board, clerk of superior court, district court judges, and superior court judge
North Dakota[edit]
Bismarck, North Dakota - Mayor and city council
Ohio[edit]
Cuyahoga County, Ohio - County executive, county council, and court of common pleas judges
Fairfield County, Ohio - County auditor and county commissioner
Franklin County, Ohio - County auditor, county commission, and court of common pleas judges
Hamilton County, Ohio - County auditor, clerk of court, county commission, and court of common pleas judges
Lucas County, Ohio - County auditor, county recorder, county commission, and court of common pleas judges
Oklahoma[edit]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Mayor
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Auditor and city council
Canadian County, Oklahoma - Assessor, treasurer, and county commission
Cleveland County, Oklahoma - Assessor, district attorney, treasurer, and county commission
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma - Assessor, district attorney, treasurer, county commission
Osage County, Oklahoma - Assessor, treasurer, and county commission
Tulsa County, Oklahoma - Assessor, district attorney, treasurer, and county commission, district judges, and district associate judge
Oregon[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Oregon in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Portland, Oregon - City auditor and city commission
Salem, Oregon - Mayor and city council
Multnomah County, Oregon - Auditor, sheriff, county commission, Metro Council, and district circuit court judges
Pennsylvania[edit]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - City council (special)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - City council (special)
Rhode Island[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Rhode Island in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Providence, Rhode Island - Mayor and city council
South Dakota[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in South Dakota in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Pierre, South Dakota - City council
Tennessee[edit]
Memphis, Tennessee - City council (special), municipal court judges (special)
Nashville, Tennessee - County clerk, district attorney general, public defender, register of deeds, sheriff, circuit court clerk, criminal court clerk, juvenile court clerk, chancery court judge, circuit court judge, criminal court judge, general session judge, and juvenile court judge
Shelby County, Tennessee - County mayor, assessor of property, county clerk, county trustee, district attorney general, register of deeds, sheriff, county commissioners, circuit court clerk, criminal court clerk, juvenile court clerk, probate court clerk, chancery court chancellors, circuit court judges, criminal court judges, general sessions civil court judges, general sessions criminal court judges, juvenile court judge, and probate court judges
Texas[edit]
Arlington, Texas - City council
Austin, Texas - Mayor and city council
Corpus Christi, Texas - Mayor and city council
El Paso, Texas - City council and municipal court judge
Fort Worth, Texas - City council
Garland, Texas - City council
Houston, Texas - City council
Irving, Texas - City council
Laredo, Texas - Mayor, city council, and municipal court judge
Lubbock, Texas - Mayor and city council
Bexar County, Texas - County clerk, district attorney, district clerk, county commission precincts 2 & 4, county commission precinct 3 (special), commissioners court judge, county court judges, county probate court judges, district courts judges, and justices of the peace,
Collin County, Texas - Constable, county clerk, district attorney, district clerk, county commission, probate court judges, county court judges, district court judges, and justices of the peace
Dallas County, Texas - County clerk, district attorney, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, constables, community college district board, commissioners county judge, district court judges, county court judges, county criminal court judges, county criminal district court judges, county criminal court of appeals judges, county probate court, and justices of the peace
Denton County, Texas - County clerk, district attorney, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, commissioners court judge, district court judges, county court judges, county criminal court at law judges, county probate court judges, and justices of the peace
El Paso County, Texas - County clerk, district clerk, county commissioners, county court at law judges, county judge, county criminal courts at law judges, probate court judges, district court judges, and justices of the peace
Fort Bend County, Texas - County clerk, district attorney, district clerk, treasurer, county commissioners, county commissioners court judge, district court judges, county court of law judges, and justices of the peace
Harris County, Texas - County clerk, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, county department of education, community college board, county civil court at law judges, county criminal court at law judges, district courts judges, court judge, probate court judges, and justices of the peace
Lubbock County, Texas - County clerk, district attorney, district clerk, county treasurer, county commission, water control and improvement district board, commissioners court judge, district court judges, county court at law judges, and justices of the peace (4 seats)
Nueces County, Texas - County clerk, district clerk, county commission, community college board, district court judges, commissioners court judge, county court at law judges, and justices of the peace
Tarrant County, Texas - County clerk, criminal district attorney, district clerk, county commissioner, constable, county judge, district court judges, criminal district judges, county court at law judges, county criminal court judges, probate court judges, and justices of the peace
Travis County, Texas - County clerk, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, community college district board, commissioners court judge, county court at law judges, district court judges, probate courts judges, and justices of the peace courts
Webb County, Texas - Constable, county clerk, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, commissioners court judge, district court judges, county court of law judges, justices of the peace, and college district board trustees
Williamson County, Texas - County clerk, district clerk, treasurer, county commission, constable, county judge, district court judges, county court at law judges, and justices of the peace
Vermont[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Vermont in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Montpelier, Vermont - Mayor and city council (regular & special)
Virginia[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Virginia in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Chesapeake, Virginia - City council
Norfolk, Virginia - City council
Virginia Beach, Virginia - City council (regular & special)
Washington[edit]
Ballotpedia expanded its coverage of local elections in Washington in 2022. Click here to find your county, or click the links below for additional information about the following municipalities:
Seattle, Washington - Seattle Municipal Court judges
King County, Washington - Prosecutor, conservation district board, superior court judges, and district court judges
Spokane County, Washington - Assesor, auditor, clerk, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, treasurer, county commission, and district court judges
Washington, D.C.[edit]
Washington, D.C. - Mayor, attorney general, city council, and nonvoting and shadow members of Congress
West Virginia[edit]
Charleston, West Virginia - Mayor and city council
Wisconsin[edit]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Mayor and city council (special)
Dane County, Wisconsin - Sheriff, board of supervisors, clerk of courts, and circuit court judges
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - Sheriff, board of supervisors, clerk of circuit court, and circuit court judges
Wyoming[edit]
Cheyenne, Wyoming - City council
U.S. territories[edit]
Northern Mariana Islands[edit]
Rota, Northern Mariana Islands - Mayor and municipal council
Saipan and Northern Islands, Northern Mariana Islands - Mayor and municipal council
Tinian and Aguiguan, Northern Mariana Islands - Mayor and municipal council
Puerto Rico[edit]
Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico - Mayor
Guayama, Puerto Rico - Mayor
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico - Mayor
Hatillo, Puerto Rico - Mayor
Humacao, Puerto Rico - Mayor
Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico - Mayor
By date[edit]
January 15[edit]
General[edit]
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
January 25[edit]
General[edit]
Houston, Texas
February 8[edit]
General[edit]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
February 15[edit]
Primary[edit]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
March 1[edit]
Primary[edit]
Bexar County, Texas
Collin County, Texas
Dallas County, Texas
Denton County, Texas
El Paso County, Texas
Fort Bend County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
Lubbock County, Texas
Nueces County, Texas
Tarrant County, Texas
Travis County, Texas
Webb County, Texas
Williamson County, Texas
General[edit]
Montpelier, Vermont
March 26[edit]
Primary[edit]
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
April 5[edit]
Primary[edit]
Boston, Massachusetts
General[edit]
Anchorage, Alaska
Jefferson City, Missouri
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
General runoff[edit]
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
April 30[edit]
General[edit]
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
May 1[edit]
General[edit]
Hatillo, Puerto Rico
May 3[edit]
Primary[edit]
Indianapolis, Indiana
Allen County, Indiana
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Fairfield County, Ohio
Franklin County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
Lucas County, Ohio
Nashville, Tennessee
General[edit]
Boston, Massachusetts
May 7[edit]
General[edit]
Guayama, Puerto Rico
Arlington, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Garland, Texas
Irving, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Dallas County, Texas
May 10[edit]
Primary[edit]
Omaha, Nebraska
Douglas County, Nebraska
Lancaster County, Nebraska
Charleston, West Virginia
General[edit]
Newark, New Jersey
May 17[edit]
Primary[edit]
Ada County, Idaho
Frankfort, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Charlotte, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Durham County, North Carolina
Forsyth County, North Carolina
Guilford County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Multnomah County, Oregon
General[edit]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 24[edit]
Primary[edit]
Jefferson County, Alabama
DeKalb County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
Primary runoff[edit]
Bexar County, Texas
Collin County, Texas
Dallas County, Texas
Denton County, Texas
El Paso County, Texas
Fort Bend County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
Lubbock County, Texas
Nueces County, Texas
Tarrant County, Texas
Travis County, Texas
Webb County, Texas
Williamson County, Texas
June 7[edit]
Primary[edit]
Chula Vista, California
Fresno, California
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California
Sacramento, California
San Bernardino, California
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Stockton, California
Alameda County, California
Fresno County, California
Kern County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Orange County, CA, California
Riverside County, California
Sacramento County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Diego County, California
San Joaquin County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Essex County, New Jersey
Hudson County, New Jersey
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
General[edit]
Pierre, South Dakota
June 12[edit]
General[edit]
Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico
Humacao, Puerto Rico
June 14[edit]
Primary[edit]
Henderson, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
Washoe County, Nevada
General[edit]
Bismarck, North Dakota
General runoff[edit]
Newark, New Jersey
June 18[edit]
General runoff[edit]
Fort Worth, Texas
June 21[edit]
Primary[edit]
Washington, D.C.
Primary runoff[edit]
Jefferson County, Alabama
DeKalb County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
General[edit]
Anchorage, Alaska
June 28[edit]
Primary[edit]
Adams County, Colorado
Arapahoe County, Colorado
El Paso County, Colorado
Cook County, Illinois
Bronx County, New York
Erie County, New York
Kings County, New York
New York County, New York
Queens County, New York
Richmond County, New York
Canadian County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Osage County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
July 12[edit]
General[edit]
St. Louis, Missouri
July 16[edit]
General[edit]
Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico
July 19[edit]
Primary[edit]
Baltimore, Maryland
July 26[edit]
Primary runoff[edit]
Wake County, North Carolina
General[edit]
Charlotte, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
August 2[edit]
Primary[edit]
Chandler, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Maricopa County, Arizona
Pima County, Arizona
Sedgwick County, Kansas
Lansing, Michigan
Wayne County, Michigan
St. Louis, Missouri
Clay County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Platte County, Missouri
Seattle, Washington
King County, Washington
Spokane County, Washington
August 4[edit]
General[edit]
Memphis, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Shelby County, Tennessee
August 9[edit]
Primary[edit]
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Ramsey County, Minnesota
August 13[edit]
Primary[edit]
Honolulu, Hawaii
August 16[edit]
Primary[edit]
Cheyenne, Wyoming
August 23[edit]
Primary[edit]
Jacksonville, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Hillsborough County, Florida
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Pinellas County, Florida
Primary runoff[edit]
Canadian County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Osage County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
General[edit]
Tulsa, Oklahoma
September 13[edit]
Primary[edit]
St. Louis, Missouri
Providence, Rhode Island
September 20[edit]
Primary[edit]
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
October 4[edit]
General[edit]
Juneau, Alaska
November 8[edit]
Primary[edit]
Hialeah, Florida
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
General[edit]
Jefferson County, Alabama
Anchorage, Alaska
Chandler, Arizona
Gilbert, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Scottsdale, Arizona
Maricopa County, Arizona
Pima County, Arizona
Little Rock, Arkansas
Anaheim, California
Bakersfield, California
Chula Vista, California
Fremont, California
Fresno, California
Irvine, California
Long Beach, California
Los Angeles, California
Oakland, California
Sacramento, California
San Bernardino, California
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
San Jose, California
Santa Ana, California
Santa Clarita, California
Stockton, California
Alameda County, California
Fresno County, California
Kern County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Orange County, California
Riverside County, California
Sacramento County, California
San Bernardino County, California
San Diego County, California
San Joaquin County, California
Santa Clara County, California
Denver, Colorado
Adams County, Colorado
Arapahoe County, Colorado
El Paso County, Colorado
Washington, D.C.
Jacksonville, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Hillsborough County, Florida
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Orange County, Florida
Pinellas County, Florida
DeKalb County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ada County, Idaho
Cook County, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Allen County, Indiana
Sedgwick County, Kansas
Frankfort, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Augusta, Maine
Baltimore, Maryland
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Detroit, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Wayne County, Michigan
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Ramsey County, Minnesota
St. Louis, Missouri
Clay County, Missouri
Jackson County, Missouri
Platte County, Missouri
Omaha, Nebraska
Douglas County, Nebraska
Lancaster County, Nebraska
Carson City, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Clark County, Nevada
Washoe County, Nevada
Trenton, New Jersey
Essex County, New Jersey
Hudson County, New Jersey
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Buffalo, New York
Bronx County, New York
Erie County, New York
Kings County, New York
New York County, New York
Queens County, New York
Richmond County, New York
Raleigh, North Carolina
Durham County, North Carolina
Forsyth County, North Carolina
Guilford County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Rota, Northern Mariana Islands
Saipan and Northern Islands, Northern Mariana Islands
Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Fairfield County, Ohio
Franklin County, Ohio
Hamilton County, Ohio
Lucas County, Ohio
Canadian County, Oklahoma
Cleveland County, Oklahoma
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Osage County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Multnomah County, Oregon
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Providence, Rhode Island
Memphis, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
El Paso, Texas
Laredo, Texas
Bexar County, Texas
Collin County, Texas
Dallas County, Texas
Denton County, Texas
El Paso County, Texas
Fort Bend County, Texas
Harris County, Texas
Lubbock County, Texas
Nueces County, Texas
Tarrant County, Texas
Travis County, Texas
Webb County, Texas
Williamson County, Texas
Chesapeake, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Seattle, Washington
King County, Washington
Spokane County, Washington
Charleston, West Virginia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Cheyenne, Wyoming
General runoff[edit]
Tulsa, Oklahoma
December 6[edit]
General[edit]
Hialeah, Florida
General runoff[edit]
Little Rock, Arkansas
DeKalb County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
December 10[edit]
General[edit]
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
December 13[edit]
General runoff[edit]
Austin, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Trenton, New Jersey
December 17[edit]
General runoff[edit]
El Paso, Texas
Laredo, Texas
List of mayors of the 100 largest cities[edit]
See also: List of current mayors of the top 100 cities in the United States
To view a list of the current mayors of the top 100 U.S. cities by population, click here.
Historical election data[edit]
Cities in Ballotpedia's coverage scope held an average of 30.4 mayoral elections and 52.3 city council elections each year between 2014 and 2021. From 2014 to 2016, our coverage scope included the 100 largest U.S. cities by population. In 2017, Ballotpedia began covering the counties that overlap those cities, as well. In 2021, our coverage scope expanded to include the mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in the 32 state capitals that fell outside the 100 largest U.S. cities.
This section includes statistics for mayoral elections, city council elections, and county elections between 2014 and 2021, comparing uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.
The following table details the total number of elections at the city and county level covered by Ballotpedia between 2014 and 2021, including the number of cities to hold mayoral and city council elections in a given year:
Total municipal elections covered by Ballotpedia from 2014 to 2021
Year
Cities
Mayor
City council
Counties
2021
70
40
59
22
2020
59
29
52
80
2019
64
30
63
29
2018
58
26
49
78
2017
59
36
50
23
2016
46
25
45
12
2015
59
33
58
N/A
2014
43
24
42
N/A
Mayoral elections[edit]
Between 2014 and 2021, 67.1% of incumbent mayors sought re-election; of these, 17.2% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The first chart below shows the number of incumbents who sought election each year compared to the number of seats up for election. The second chart shows the number of incumbents who were defeated compared to the number of incumbents who ran for re-election.
The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of mayoral races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.
Mayoral election incumbency statistics from 2014 to 2021
Year
Total seats
Uncontested
Incumbents who sought re-election
Incumbents defeated
#
%
#
%
#
%
2021
40
1
2.5%
24
60.0%
3
12.5%
2020
29
1
3.4%
22
75.9%
5
22.7%
2019
30
2
6.7%
21
70.0%
4
19.0%
2018
26
1
3.8%
18
69.2%
1
5.6%
2017
36
0
0.0%
24
66.7%
5
20.8%
2016
25
4
16.0%
15
60.0%
4
26.7%
2015
33
3
9.1%
25
75.8%
4
16.0%
2014
24
2
8.3%
14
58.3%
2
14.3%
City council elections[edit]
Between 2014 and 2021, 68.7% of city council incumbents sought re-election; of these, 13.6% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The first chart below shows the number of incumbents who sought election each year compared to the number of seats up for election. The second chart shows the number of incumbents who were defeated compared to the number of incumbents who ran for re-election.
The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of city council races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.
City council election incumbency statistics from 2014 to 2021
Year
Total seats
Uncontested
Incumbents who sought re-election
Incumbents defeated
#
%
#
%
#
%
2021
416
63
15.1%
276
66.3%
47
17.0%
2020
253
47
18.6%
175
69.2%
26
14.9%
2019
457
59
12.9%
312
68.3%
39
12.5%
2018
200
29
14.5%
137
68.5%
19
13.9%
2017
367
47
12.8%
274
74.7%
37
13.5%
2016
216
48
22.2%
156
72.2%
22
14.1%
2015
467
97
20.8%
309
66.2%
30
9.7%
2014
198
31
15.7%
130
65.7%
21
16.2%
County elections[edit]
Between 2017 and 2021, 83.0% of county and special district incumbents sought re-election; of these, 8.8% were defeated in their bids for re-election. The table below is organized by year and includes the total number of county races and the number and percentage of uncontested races, incumbents who sought re-election, and incumbents who were defeated in their re-election bids.
County election incumbency statistics from 2017 to 2021
Year
Total seats
Uncontested
Incumbents who sought re-election
Incumbents defeated
#
%
#
%
#
%
2021
176
59
33.5%
106
60.2%
8
7.5%
2020
2,167
1,190
54.9%
1,861
85.9%
147
7.9%
2019
183
85
46.4%
140
76.5%
11
7.9%
2018
2,168
1,115
51.4%
1,807
83.3%
176
9.7%
2017
108
47
43.5%
74
68.5%
9
12.2%
Uncontested races[edit]
An average of 1.8 mayoral races and 52.6 city council races went uncontested between 2014 and 2021. In terms of mayoral elections, 2016 saw the highest number of uncontested races (four) and 2017 saw the fewest (zero). For city council seats, 2015 had the highest number of uncontested races (97) and 2018 had the fewest (29). The chart below shows the percentage of uncontested mayoral and city council races between 2014 and 2021.
More local election analysis[edit]
See also: United States municipal elections, 2022
In 2022, Ballotpedia covered elections for mayor, city council, and all other city officials in the 100 largest cities by population in the United States, as well as elections for county officials whose jurisdictions overlapped with those cities.
Featured analysis[edit]
Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2022): Heading into 2022, the mayors of 62 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Republicans held 26 mayoral offices, independents held four, and seven mayors were nonpartisan. One mayor's partisan affiliation was unknown.[50]
More related articles[edit]
United States municipal elections overview
School board elections
Local trial court judicial elections
Local ballot measure elections
Partisanship in United States municipal elections
List of endorsements of school board members by state executive officeholders and candidates
Rematches in 2022 general elections
Ballotpedia's Top 15 elections to watch, 2022
Candidates with the same last names, 2022
Ballotpedia's Mid-Year Recall Report (2022)
See also[edit]
Municipal Government
Poll Closing Times
Footnotes[edit]
↑Community Impact, "Election Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Austin mayor," October 18, 2022
↑Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Celia Israel," October 12, 2022
↑Austin Monitor, "Mayoral candidate Israel shares housing platform," June 23, 2022
↑Celia Israel 2022 campaign website, "MOBILITY," accessed December 5, 2022
↑Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Kirk Watson," October 17, 2022
↑Kirk Watson 2022 campaign website, "Housing," accessed December 5, 2022
↑ 7.07.17.2KXAN, "Watch Austin mayor debate: Celia Israel, Kirk Watson discuss affordability, transportation, city’s future," December 1, 2022
↑KXAN, "‘Very consequential’: Meet the candidates for Austin mayor," October 24, 2022
↑KUT, "Austin’s next mayor will serve two years, not the usual four," October 19, 2022
↑Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Bass, Karen," accessed May 16, 2022
↑YouTube, "Get It Done," May 9, 2022
↑LinkedIn, "Caruso," accessed May 16, 2022
↑Rick Caruso's campaign website, "Meet Rick Caruso," accessed May 16, 2022
↑YouTube, "Faith, Family and Community," February 15, 2022
↑Los Angeles Times, "Rick Caruso changes registration to Democrat as he weighs a run for L.A. mayor," January 24, 2022
↑The New York Times, "Rick Caruso and Karen Bass head to a runoff in the Los Angeles mayor’s race.," June 8, 2022
↑ 17.017.1Axios, "Why L.A. mayor’s race matters," May 29, 2022
↑Wisconsin Public Radio, "Johnson, Donovan advance to general election in Milwaukee mayoral race," February 15, 2022
↑Urban Milwaukee, "Johnson Ceremonially Sworn In As Mayor," December 23, 2021
↑PolitiFact, "'Republican Bob Donovan' has 'run as a Republican time and again,'" March 11, 2016
↑Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee mayoral candidates spar in first public appearance since Tuesday primary," February 20, 2022
↑Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee mayoral candidates vie for rare open seat. Here's what you should know." December 29, 2021
↑ 23.023.1Fernanda Maria Barreto's campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
↑ 24.024.1Ryan Dibble's campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
↑ 25.025.1Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes' campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
↑Los Angeles Times, "Endorsement: The Times’ recommendations for Los Angeles County Superior Court judges," May 13, 2022
↑ 27.027.1Fernanda Maria Barreto's campaign website, "About," accessed May 20, 2022
↑LinkedIn, "Ryan Dibble," accessed May 20, 2022
↑Voter's Edge, "Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes," accessed May 20, 2022
↑Ryan Dibble's campaign website, "Ryan's Story," accessed May 20, 2022
↑District Attorney's Office, "FAQs," accessed May 4, 2022
↑Lee was elected as a Democrat and switched parties in 2021.
↑In 2021, 28 of the top 100 cities held mayoral elections, and two offices changed partisan control: one as a result of an election, and one as the result of a mayor switching parties. Once mayors elected in 2021 assumed office, the mayors of 63 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party, 26 were Republicans, four were independent, six were nonpartisan, and one was unknown. Ahead of the 2022 election cycle, Ballotpedia updated our list of top 100 cities based on data from the 2020 census, swapping out Birmingham, Alabama, which had a Democratic mayor at the time, and San Bernardino, California, with a Republican mayor, for Santa Clarita, California, with a Republican mayor, and Spokane, Washington, with a nonpartisan mayor.