See also: Mayoral election in Anchorage, Alaska (2024)

Suzanne LaFrance won the nonpartisan general runoff election for mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, on May 14, 2024. LaFrance defeated incumbent David Bronson, 53.5% to 46.5%.

Bronson and LaFrance advanced to the runoff from the nonpartisan general election on April 2. LaFrance received 36.3% of the vote and Bronson received 35.0%. The two advanced to a runoff because neither received more than 45% of the vote.

LaFrance was a former member of the Anchorage Assembly and chaired the Assembly during the first two years of Bronson's term.^[3] LaFrance said she was running to "bring people together and get our future back on track." LaFrance said her business experience and time on the assembly gave her the necessary knowledge and skillset to turn Anchorage around.^[4] LaFrance said she would be a more effective mayor than Bronson: "My pitch is that we can get the basics right, and we can build a better future for everyone in our community."^[5]

First elected in 2021, Bronson ran on his first-term record. Bronson said he opposed the Anchorage Assembly's efforts to increase tax and spending rates and worked to reopen the city following the COVID-19 pandemic.^[6] Bronson said he had the "relentless commitment, vision, and a whole lot of heart" needed for the office.^[7] Bronson said he would act as a more effective check on the Assembly than LaFrance: "My administration is standing between single party governance in the city...and the balance that we need within our government."^[8]

Although the election was nonpartisan, Bronson was a registered Republican and LaFrance was a registered nonpartisan. The Alaska Republican Party endorsed Bronson and the Alaska Democratic Party endorsed LaFrance.^[9][10]

As of April 2024, 63 mayors in the 100 largest cities by population were affiliated with the Democratic Party, 25 were affiliated with the Republican Party, one was affiliated with the Libertarian Party, four were independents, five identified as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two had unknown partisan affiliations.

As of 2024, Anchorage had term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors could serve two consecutive three-year terms and could run again after a three year break.

See also: Mayoral election in Baltimore, Maryland, 2024 (May 14 Democratic primary)

Incumbent Brandon Scott (D) won the Democratic primary for mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, on May 14, 2024. Scott received 51.1% of the vote. Sheila Dixon (D) finished in second place with 41.1%. Wayne Baker (D), Wendy Bozel (D), Texas Brown (D), Kevin P. Harris (D), Wendell Hill-Freeman (D), Yolanda Pulley (D), Joseph Scott (D), Keith Scott (D), Thiru Vignarajah (D), Bob Wallace (D) and Yasaun Young (D) also ran in the primary. Scott, Dixon, and Wallace led in fundraising and local media attention.

Local political observers said crime was a central issue for both the Scott and Dixon campaigns.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Dixon was likely to focus her campaign on a similar section of the electorate as in 2020, which it described as "Black voters, many of whom named crime as their top concern."^[11] Dixon said her policies as mayor "led to 30-year record lows in crime and homicides."^[12] Scott's challenge was "more complicated that [sic] lowering the homicide rate. The battle is also over the public perception of crime among city residents, some of whom find little solace in the city’s diminished homicide count," according to the Baltimore Sun.^[11]

Scott was first elected in 2020 and was running on his record: "We have been able to decrease crime by doing it the right way."^[11] Scott said he offered "a choice to make about whether we will continue on the sustainable path forward, or if we will go back to the broken ways and failed leadership of the past."^[13]

Dixon was a former mayor and city council member who resigned in 2010 as part of a plea deal following a corruption investigation.^[14] Dixon said she was running because Scott was mismanaging the city: "I look at city government today, and I don't recognize it anymore. I see firsthand that it's letting people down daily."^[15] In 2020, Scott defeated Dixon 29.6%–27.5% in the Democratic primary.

Wallace was, at the time of the election, a businessman and author of books on wealth creation and entrepreneurship.^[16] Wallace said he was running because "today's Baltimore presents challenges for our Black sons and daughters."^[17] Wallace said he would create the position of city manager/chief ethics officer, pursue partnerships with businesses to attract $1 billion of investment, and overhaul the city's schools.^[18] In 2020, Wallace ran for mayor as an independent. Scott defeated him 70.5%–20.2%.

The last Republican mayor of Baltimore was Theodore McKeldin (R) in 1967.^[19]

See also: Mayoral election in Las Vegas, Nevada (2024)

Shelley Berkley defeated Victoria Seaman in the general election for mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 5, 2024. Berkley and Seaman were the top-two vote-getters in the June 11, 2024, primary, and both advanced to the general election because neither won a majority of the votes.

Incumbent Carolyn Goodman, who was first elected in 2011, was term-limited. Goodman's husband, Oscar, served as Las Vegas mayor from 1999 to 2011.^[20] Goodman was one of eight mayors in the 100 largest cities registered as nonpartisan or independent.

The mayor sits on the Las Vegas City Council and is the only member elected at large. The mayor presides over council meetings and official city ceremonies. KTNV Channel 13 Senior Reporter Steve Sebelius said, "The importance [is in] this bully pulpit role of the mayor."^[21]

Berkeley represented Nevada's 1st Congressional District as a Democrat from 1999 to 2013. Before that, she practiced law and served in the Nevada Assembly from 1982 to 1984.^[22] Berkeley said, "[Las Vegas] is the fastest growing community in the United States, and it certainly was when I was in Congress representing Las Vegas. So many of the issues that I concentrated on when I was in Congress are still important issues today."^[23] Berkeley said her campaign was focused on affordable housing, homelessness, and small businesses.^[23]

At the time of the election, Seaman had represented Ward 2 on the Las Vegas City Council since 2019. From 2014 to 2016, Seaman was a Republican representing the 34th District in the Nevada Assembly. Seaman said, "I have a keen ability to recognize and face head-on complicated issues that impact our residents. It is for this reason and my commitment for this city that I live in — and the support of my family — that I’m announcing my campaign for mayor of Las Vegas.”^[24] Seaman's top issues included public safety, infrastructure, and supporting local businesses.^[25]

Lawsuits against the city over a defunct golf course in the Queensridge area were an issue in the election. Click here to learn where the candidates stood on those lawsuits.

The city of Las Vegas does not include the Strip, which is in an unincorporated part of Clark County.^[26] Clark County and Las Vegas share a police department and other municipal services.^[26]

Thirty-four of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2024.^[27] Heading into the year, 18 of those cities had a Democratic mayor, meaning 29% of the 63 Democratic-led cities held mayoral elections. Eleven cities that held elections had a Republican mayor at the start of the year, meaning 42% of the 26 Republican-led cities held elections. The remaining eight top-100 cities that held elections in 2024 started the year with independent or nonpartisan mayors.

As of 2024, Las Vegas had term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors served four-year term with a 12 year lifetime limit.

See also: Mayoral election in Portland, Oregon (2024)

Keith Wilson defeated eighteen candidates in the nonpartisan election for mayor of Portland on November 5, 2024.^[28] Wilson was one of five candidates—including Rene Gonzalez, Mingus Mapps, Liv Osthus, and Carmen Rubio—who led in media attention, polls, and campaign finance.

The Portland mayoral election was nonpartisan. Incumbent Ted Wheeler was affiliated with the Democratic Party. Click here to read more about the party affiliation of the mayors of the 100 largest cities.

This was the first mayoral election in Portland to use ranked-choice voting. The new mayor would also oversee the transition to a new governmental structure. These changes were features of Measure 26-228, which Portland voters approved 58%-42% in November 2022.

A ranked-choice voting system (RCV) is an electoral system in which voters rank candidates by preference on their ballots. If a candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, he or she is declared the winner. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. First-preference votes cast for the failed candidate are eliminated, lifting the second-preference choices indicated on those ballots. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won a majority of the adjusted votes. The process is repeated until a candidate wins an outright majority.^[29][30]

Heading into the 2024 elections, Portland had been using a commission government where five commissioners, including the mayor, were elected citywide to act both executively and legislatively. Portland switched to a mayor-council government with a 12-member city council elected by district. OPB's Alex Zielinski wrote, "Under this 'mayor-council' model, city councilors will focus solely on legislating and will no longer oversee city bureaus. These departments will instead be overseen by a new city administrator, who will report to the mayor."^[31]

Homelessness was a key issue in the race.^[32][33][34] The Associated Press' Claire Rush wrote that the top candidates "presented different visions for reducing homelessness in a metro area where a January 2023 count found nearly 4,000 people living unsheltered."^[35]

In an October 15, 2024, debate between the top five candidates, the participants were asked to grade Portland's response to homelessness. Gonzalez gave the city a C, citing a lack of housing production. Mapps gave it the highest grade of C+ and said that while current transitional housing efforts were helping, more permanent housing efforts were needed. Osthus gave it a D and said she would like more state-level involvement. Rubio gave the city an Incomplete grade "on the way to a C," saying shelter and housing development efforts needed more time to produce results. Wilson gave the city an F and called the city's handling of homelessness a complete failure.^[36]

Gonzalez was a business attorney and city commissioner. He said, "I am running for Mayor to ensure the work we have begun on crime, homelessness, the drug crisis, and economic revitalization continue stronger than ever."^[37]

Mapps was a political scientist and city commissioner. Mapps said, "If you want common sense solutions to our most crucial problems, I sure hope that you’ll consider ranking me number one in the mayor’s race.”^[38]

Osthus said, "I am an artist. A writer, musician, stripper," and added, "I'm aghast that this city doesn't put more value on arts and its artists. I believe art and artists can revive downtown, and I want to be sure that message is heard loud and clear throughout the city."^[37]

Rubio was a city commissioner. Rubio said, "Portlanders deserve a mayor who will take us into our future without drama – just hard, collaborative work, especially on community safety, homelessness and housing. That’s how I’ve led as a Commissioner, and how I will do so as Portland’s next mayor."^[37]

Wilson was the chief executive officer of a trucking company and founder of the nonprofit Shelter Portland.^[37] Wilson said on his campaign website, "Enough is enough. We refuse to accept the status quo. Within one year, I’ll end unsheltered homelessness in our city."^[39]

Saadiq Ali, Shei'Meka As-Salaam, James Atkinson, Michael Hayes, Yao Jun He, Durrell Kinsey Bey, Josh Leake, James Macdonald, Sharon Nasset, Michael Necula, Alexander Landry Neely, Michael O'Callaghan, Martin Ward, and Dustin Witherspoon also ran.

See also: Mayoral election in San Francisco, California (2024)

Daniel Lurie defeated twelve other candidates in the general election for mayor of San Francisco, California, on Nov. 5, 2024. Click here for detailed results.

Four candidates led in polling and media attention before the election: Incumbent Mayor London Breed, Mark Farrell, Daniel Lurie, and Aaron Peskin. Though San Francisco holds nonpartisan elections, all four of the leading candidates were registered Democrats.^[40]

ABC7 News conducted interviews with the four leading candidates. According to ABC7 News Monica Madden, "All four candidates - Mayor London Breed, Aaron Peskin, Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie - were in agreement about the severity of the homelessness problem in San Francisco, but they all differed in approaches to solutions."^[41] Breed said homelessness in San Francisco reached a ten-year low during her mayorship and said the city had the authority to enforce laws that restrict lying and camping in public spaces after the Supreme Court's decision in City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Johnson. Farrell said he would prioritize sustainable growth and marketing the city to businesses and tourists. Lurie said his experience working for Tipping Point, a nonprofit focused on antipoverty efforts, made him the most qualified to lead efforts to increase housing. Peskin said he would reform system management practices so various city departments work together to address homelessness, work with neighboring cities to restore underutilized state facilities for mental health treatment centers, and expand conservatorship laws.^[42][43]

Breed served as the mayor of San Francisco since 2020. Breed received a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis and a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco.^[44] Before serving in public office, Breed worked as the executive director of the African American Art and Culture Complex. Breed served as the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency Commissioner and as a member and president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.^[45] Breed said housing affordability was her top priority. Breed said, “Our work is removing roadblocks and making it easier to build housing that’s affordable, so that everyone who wants to call San Francisco home can live here.”^[46] Breed also listed public safety, reducing drug abuse, improving street conditions, reducing homelessness, and improving public transportation as her priorities.^[47]

Farrell served as the interim mayor of San Francisco in 2018. Farrell received a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, a master’s degree from University College Dublin, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Before serving in public office, Farrell worked as a corporate and securities attorney.^[48] Farrell served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2011-2018. Farrell said, "As mayor, I’ll fully fund public safety, make a change of leadership at the top of our police department, clear all our tent encampments, create a centralized intake center, and connect people to shelter and services."^[49]

Lurie worked as an associate at Robin Hood, chair of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, and founded and worked as the CEO of Tipping Point Community.^[50] On his campaign website, Lurie listed public safety, improving mental health and drug abuse, reducing corruption, and providing more affordable housing as his priorities.^[51] "With accountability and rooting out corruption, we can tackle our housing and drug crisis, clear the tent encampments, and bring our businesses back."^[52]

Peskin was a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Peskin received a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He founded the nonprofit Great Basin Land and Water, worked for the land conservation group Trust for Public Land, served as chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, and was the president of the historic preservation and affordable housing group Telegraph Hill Dwellers.^[53] On his campaign website, Peskin said he would reduce homelessness by building and supporting more affordable housing developments, force departments to improve their coordination, and identify and restore unused state facilities to use for mental health and drug abuse treatment locations.^[54]

Henry Flynn, Keith Freedman, Dylan Hirsch-Shell, Nelson Mei, Paul Ybarra Robertson, and Ahsha Safai also ran in the election.

San Francisco has term limits. The incumbent mayor can run for two consecutive four-year terms and may run again after a four-year break following his or her second consecutive term.

San Francisco uses ranked-choice voting, which asks voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots. The candidate who wins a majority of first-preference votes is declared the winner. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated. Ballots that ranked a failed candidate as their first, or highest choice, depending on the round, are then reevaluated and counted as first-preference ballots for the next-highest-ranked candidate in that round. A new tally is conducted to determine whether any candidate has won a majority of ballots. The process is repeated until a candidate wins an outright majority.