United States mayoral elections, 2025

See also: Mayoral election in Boston, Massachusetts (2025) (September 9 nonpartisan primary)

Incumbent Michelle Wu and Josh Kraft defeated two other candidates in the nonpartisan primary election for mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, on September 9, 2025. On Friday, September 12, Kraft withdrew from the race.^[2] The general election was November 4, 2025

Wu was first elected in 2021, when she defeated Annissa Essaibi George 64%-35.6%. The last incumbent mayor to lose a re-election bid was James Michael Curley in 1949. ^[3][4]

Wu and Kraft led in media attention and campaign fundraising.^[5] Robert Cappucci and Domingos DaRosa also ran. While mayoral elections in Boston are nonpartisan, Wu, Kraft, and Cappucci all wrote that they were Democrats on their Organization Statements filed with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance.^[6][7][8] DaRosa did not write a partisan affiliation.^[9]

On September 15, 2025, DaRosa requested a recount of the primary.^[10] The recount determined that DaRosa did not receive the minimum of 3,000 votes that were required to make the ballot for the general election. As a result, Wu was is the first incumbent mayor to run unopposed in a general election since Thomas Menino did so in 1997.^[11]

Wu was previously a member of the Boston City Council. She also worked for former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.^[12] Wu ran on her record. Her campaign website said, "Since taking office, she has invested more in making housing affordable than any other administration in Boston’s history. In her first full year as mayor, gun violence fell to the lowest level on record—and has continued to fall every year since. She promised a summer job to every BPS student who wanted one—and delivered, and has expanded Universal Pre-K to serve more children and families than ever before."^[13] U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D), U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D) endorsed Wu.^[14] As of August 31, Wu raised $1.8 million and spent $1.1 million.^[15]

Kraft was the head of Kraft Family Philanthropies, former CEO of the Boys & Girls Club in Boston, former president of the New England Patriots Foundation, and the son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.^[16][17] Kraft's campaign website said, "I love this city, but I have serious concerns about its future and many issues need attention. Lack of access to housing that regular people can afford, which is forcing many people to leave the city. Boston Public Schools that are failing our kids and families. Poorly planned bike and bus lanes that are changing our neighborhood streets and creating gridlock all across the city. The humanitarian crisis and public safety concerns at Mass and Cass need to be addressed."^[18] The International Longshoremen’s Association endorsed Kraft.^[19] As of August 31, Kraft raised $6.8 million and spent $5.5 million.^[15]

On May 15, a coalition of the city's Democratic Ward Committees hosted a candidate forum. Wu, Kraft, and DaRosa all participated.^[20][21] During the forum, candidates spoke about housing, public transportation, public safety, the city's fiscal health, and the mayor's role in responding to the policies of the Trump Administration. Click here to watch the forum.

While Wu and Kraft both said they opposed the Trump Administration's immigration policies, they differed on several other issues, including housing, transportation, and the renovation of Boston's White Stadium.

Wu said her administration created more than 11,000 housing units, including 5,400 affordable units, with another 4,000 affordable units in progress, and implemented new affordability requirements.^[20] Kraft said he would reverse the Wu administration requirements, which he said were blocking the construction of 26,000 housing units, increase the number of Boston residents who qualify for income-restricted housing units, and create an opt-in rent control plan that would include property tax breaks for participating landlords.^[22][4]

Wu said she would prioritize reducing dependence on cars. Wu highlighted her record on public transportation, including working with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to eliminate slow zones, as well as increasing ridership with fare-free bus lines, installing speed humps, and using technology to reduce congestion.^[13] Kraft said he wouldn't prioritize reducing dependence on cars and instead would focus on fixing roads and sidewalks, as well as temporarily pause bike lane construction to conduct an audit on the efficiency of proposed bike lanes.^[23]

Another topic that the candidates differed on was the renovation of Boston's White Stadium. Wu had led the city's effort to renovate the stadium, calling it an investment "into Black and Brown communities, into our students, and into the Boston Public Schools." Wu also promoted an agreement between the city and Boston Legacy FC, a new professional women's soccer team, to share use of the stadium.^[24] Kraft criticized the stadium renovation as too expensive, said he would cancel the contract with the soccer team, and create a new plan for the stadium "at a fraction of the cost."^[24]

The filing deadline for this election was May 20, 2025.

See also: Mayoral election in Detroit, Michigan (August 5 nonpartisan primary)

Solomon Kinloch and Mary Sheffield advanced in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of Detroit on August 5, 2025.

Bridge Detroit's Malachi Barrett wrote, "For the first time since he won the role 12 years ago, Mike Duggan will not be on the ballot for Detroit mayor. His term expires at the end of 2025, opening up a competitive contest to succeed him."^[25] Though the position is nonpartisan, Duggan was an independent, formerly affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[26] Detroit's last Republican mayor left office in 1962.^[27]

James Craig was the former chief of Detroit's police department and ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Michigan in 2022 and U.S. Senate in 2024.^[28] He campaigned on public safety, and said that residents "want police and they want more police, but that certainly doesn't mean that we need to exhaust the budget just for public safety. There has to be a balance."^[29] Craig also said he wanted a third party to audit the city's finances, and said that if elected, he would "[b]ring in a firm that will not only report out on the health, but come back with recommendations."^[30]

Fred Durhal, at the time of the primary, was a member of the Detroit City Council, a former Democratic state representative, and a community liaison to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.^[31] He campaigned on his experience and said he was the only candidate in the race who had a "vast experience of being able to foster relationships and deliver here for the city of Detroit."^[32] Durhal also said that he wanted to reform property taxes, and said he would "modernize [property] assessments by transitioning toward income-based assessments for commercial and residential rental properties, ensuring taxes are aligned with actual earning potential."^[33]

Saunteel Jenkins was a nonprofit executive and was president of the Detroit City Council from 2013 to 2014.^[34][35] She campaigned on affordability, and her website said she would "make lowering property taxes and housing affordability a top priority. We’ll work with our partners to create more affordable housing options for renters and owners."^[36] Jenkins also campaigned to expand public transit, and said, "We should have a combination of traditional buses and shuttles that go shorter routes. You need transportation hubs around the city, not just Rosa Parks Transit Center, that can fulfill the needs of people throughout the city."^[37] Jenkins was affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[38]

Solomon Kinloch, at the time of the primary, was the pastor of the Triumph Church.^[39] He campaigned on his lack of political experience, and focused on his experience as a pastor. He said, "It doesn’t matter how experienced you are if your experiences don’t change the experiences of the people in this city." He added, "When government didn’t show up and do their part, Solomon Kinloch and Triumph Church stood up."^[40] Kinloch also campaigned on building new grocery stores in the city. He said, "I plan on building 10 strategically locator[sic] grocery stores and ending the food desert in Detroit forever."^[41] Kinloch was affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[38]

Mary Sheffield, at the time of the primary, was the president of the Detroit City Council.^[42] She campaigned on developing less well-off neighborhoods, and her website said that further development had "to occur in neighborhoods, and resources must be made available to residents where they live, work, play and pray. Detroit cannot continue to be a tale of two cities."^[43] Sheffield also campaigned on using community policing, and said she was "very big on community violence intervention programs, and possibly creating an office of gun violence prevention in Detroit. Creating more ways to address the underlying social issues that breed crime in our community."^[44] Sheffield was affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[38]

Deadline Detroit's Allan Lengel wrote, "It's always tough to say just how influential political endorsements are. That being said, they're still coveted and considered a prize worth working for." Most of the leading candidates received endorsements from organizations with local and national reach:

• Four mayors of other Michigan cities, including those from Grand Rapids and Lansing, endorsed Durhal.^[45]
• The Detroit News' editorial board endorsed Jenkins, and the Michigan Chronicle's editorial board co-endorsed Jenkins and Sheffield.^[46][47]
• The United Auto Workers, the Black Slate, and the 13th Congressional District Democrats endorsed Kinloch.^[48][49][50]
• The Service Employees International Union Michigan and the Detroit Free Press's editorial board endorsed Sheffield. The Michigan Chronicle's editorial board co-endorsed Sheffield and Jenkins.^[45][51][47]

Ballotpedia did not identify any public formal endorsements for Craig.

Jonathan Barlow, Joel Haashiim, Todd Perkins, and Danetta Simpson also ran.

See also: Mayoral election in Helena, Montana (2025)

Emily Dean defeated Andy Shirtliff in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Helena, Montana, on November 4, 2025.

Shirtliff and Dean advanced from the nonpartisan primary on September 9, 2025. Shirtliff received 48.33% of the vote and Dean received 36.53%.^[52]

This election was the first since 2001 in Helena to require a mayoral primary.^[53] According to KTVH, state law "requires local governments to hold primaries if at least five candidates are running for any single position."^[53]

Incumbent Wilmot Collins did not run for re-election. Although the position of mayor was officially nonpartisan, Collins was a Democrat.^[53][54]

Dean was the director of engagement for the Montana School Boards Association. She was elected to the Helena City Commission in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. She served as mayor pro tem. Dean said, "As Mayor, my focus will be on modernizing our infrastructure, supporting responsible policies to increase affordable housing, and ensuring quality city services that meet the needs of all residents."^[55] Collins and Helena City Commissioner Sean Logan endorsed Dean.^[56]

Shirtliff was the executive director of the Montana Building Industry Association. He was appointed to the Helena City Commission in 2022. According to the Independent Record, Shirtliff said that as commissioner he "led collaborative efforts with downtown business owners, tenants and workers to find parking solutions; joined businesses and event planners in working toward a streamlined city permitting process; and worked with city officials to keep events on the Walking Mall."^[57] According to KTVH, "Shirtliff says as mayor, he will focus on improving city services and communication, champion housing solutions and encourage entrepreneurship."^[58]

The AARP, the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce, and the League of Women Voters of the Helena Area hosted a candidate forum on September 30, 2025. Voters asked the candidates questions about government transparency, enforcement of city project timelines, and housing and homelessness. On housing, Dean said, "Helena has seen a surge in its 65-years-and-older population. That means the Queen City needs to focus on 'aging in place.' Due to housing costs, elders can sell a three-bedroom house but still struggle to afford a downsize. Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs, could help elders downsize and open housing opportunities in Helena."^[20] Shirtliff said, "Construction prices have shot up since 2018, so the city needs to reduce housing costs by expanding city infrastructure. Private contractors spend massive sums on sidewalks and water. Building up instead of out could be easier on utility and road costs."^[20]

Helena has a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council, which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body, appoints a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the city council's policy and legislative initiatives.^[59]

See also: Mayoral election in Jersey City, New Jersey (2025)

James Solomon defeated Jim McGreevey in the nonpartisan runoff general election for mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey on Dec 2, 2025. Incumbent Mayor Steven Fulop chose to run in the Democratic primary for governor of New Jersey rather than seek a fourth term. Click here for detailed results.

McGreevey and Solomon advanced to the runoff after neither received 51% of the vote in the general election on Nov. 4, 2025.^[60] In the general election, Solomon received 29% of the vote, and McGreevey received 25% in a field of seven candidates. The last time that a Jersey City mayoral election ended in a runoff was in 2001.^[61]

While Jersey City municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, both McGreevey and Solomon identified as Democrats. Fulop also identified as a Democrat, meaning Solomon's victory kept the office under Democratic control.

According to CBS News, the race "focused on a slew of issues, including housing affordability, police and public safety reform and accountability, improving schools, fixing quality of life concerns such as traffic congestion and increasing government transparency."^[62]

McGreevey was, at the time of the election, the director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.^[63] He previously served as governor of New Jersey from 2002 to 2004 and mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, from 1992 to 2002. McGreevey also served in the New Jersey Senate from 1994 to 1998 and the New Jersey General Assembly from 1990 to 1992.

Heading into the election, McGreevey said, “I’m not running to build a political career, I’m running to fix the city I love. For four years, I’ll focus on the fundamentals: cleaner streets, safer neighborhoods, better schools, stronger senior services, and a city government that actually works for working families.”^[64]

Solomon was first elected to represent Ward E on the Jersey City Council in 2017. Previously, Solomon was an adjunct professor at multiple colleges in New Jersey and as an aide to the former Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.^[65]

Heading into the election, Solomon said, “Jersey City needs change. It needs an affordable Jersey City and it’s not going to become affordable if we go back to the same corrupt machine playbook that has failed residents of Jersey City year after year after year.”^[66]

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, and Hudson County Executive Craig Guy (D) endorsed McGreevey.^[67][68] U.S. Sen. Andrew Kim (D), Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and Hudson County Commissioner William O’Dea (D) endorsed Solomon.^[68]

See also: Mayoral election in Miami, Florida (2025)

Eileen Higgins defeated Emilio Gonzalez in the runoff election for mayor of Miami, Florida, on Dec. 9, 2025. This was the first runoff election for mayor since 2001.^[69]

The two advanced from a 13-candidate field in the nonpartisan election on Nov. 4, 2025. In that election, Higgins received 36% of the vote, and Gonzalez received 20% of the vote. Among the candidates running were former mayors Joe Carollo and Xavier Suarez, and former city commissioners Alex Díaz de la Portilla and Ken Russell. The editorial board of The Miami Herald wrote that Miami voters "rejected some of the city’s longtime political players in the race for mayor. ... it’s clear voters want change."^[70] To read more about the November 4 election, click here.

Gonzalez was a member of the Florida Treasury Investment Council and a former city manager.^[71] He campaigned on reducing taxes and said, "We can eliminate property taxes for homestead property owners while protecting vital services like public safety and infrastructure."^[72] He also campaigned on reducing city work regulations, and said he would "build a workforce to overhaul permitting and licensing—sparking opportunity and empowering residents and entrepreneurs, not just the well-connected."^[73] Gonzalez was affiliated with the Republican Party.^[74]

Higgins was a commissioner for District 5 on the Miami-Dade County Board of Commissioners.^[75] She campaigned on affordability, and her website said she would support "cutting through red tape and ending corruption so that our city’s government can get to work creating a prosperous and affordable future for all residents."^[76] Higgins also campaigned on improving the city's resilience to environmental disasters. Her website said she would "protect Biscayne Bay, invest in flood mitigations, and secure a resilient future for our city."^[76] Higgins was affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[74]

Florida Politics' Jesse Scheckner wrote, "The Miami-Dade Mayor’s race is technically nonpartisan, though party politics can still play into races."^[77] President Donald Trump (R) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) endorsed Gonzalez, and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson (D) and Democratic-aligned Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava endorsed Higgins.^[78][77][79]

Both parties focused on turning out their supporters in the runoff. Miami-Dade County GOP chair Kevin Cooper said the local party was focused on mobilizing voters. Specifically, he pointed to Gonzalez's endorsements and said, "I think you’re going to see people of statewide and even national importance getting out the vote for Emilio." ^[80] The Democratic National Committee used its national volunteer base to support Higgins with get-out-the-vote efforts, and Chair Ken Martin said, "Between now and Election Day, the DNC is all-in to elect Eileen Higgins."^[81]

In 2024, Donald Trump (R) became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Miami-Dade County in 36 years. However, Kamala Harris (D) won the city of Miami 50% to 49%.^[82] A Democrat was last elected mayor in 1993.^[69] To read more about Ballotpedia's mayoral coverage, click here.

On the same ballot as the election, Miami voters approved a lifetime term limit of two terms for the mayor.^[70]

See also: Mayoral election in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2025)

Incumbent Jacob Frey (D) defeated Omar Fateh (D) and 13 other candidates in the nonpartisan general election for mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 4, 2025.

Elections in Minneapolis were officially nonpartisan, but the Minneapolis City Charter allowed mayoral and city council candidates to choose a party label to appear below their name on the official ballot.^[83]

Frey was first elected in 2017, defeating incumbent Betsy Hodges (D) in the fifth round of ranked-choice voting. Frey, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), said he was a pragmatic progressive.^[84] He said, "I’m running because with everything going on in the world, experience matters. ... I have stood up for what’s best for our city even when it was not politically expedient to do so. It’s time for us to love our city more than our ideology. Together, we can make Minneapolis a national model for progressive governance that is laser-focused not on politics, but on delivering for residents."^[85]

Fateh was also a DFL member, and said he was a democratic socialist. He was elected to the Minnesota Senate, representing District 62, in 2020. Fateh said, "We deserve leadership that makes it so people want to continue to live here, raise families here, and start businesses here. ... We need a Mayor who understands that a city that lifts up working people is a city that lifts up everyone. Because when the city invests in us, we have more time to invest in the people we love."^[86]

While the city's mayor had been a DFL member since 1978, the election highlighted divisions within the larger party, primarily between Fateh's democratic socialists and democrats who support Frey.^[87] For example, the Minneapolis DFL endorsed Fateh at a convention on July 19, 2025, but the Minnesota DFL revoked the endorsement on August 21, 2025, after Frey's supporters alleged issues with the electronic voting system. To learn more click here.^[84]

Party divisions predated Fateh's revoked endorsement. Following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, the Democratic city council disagreed with Frey on police reform, specifically on defunding the police.^[88][89] According to the MinnPost, "A coalition of Minneapolis candidates fueled by left-wing energy and skepticism of the status quo at City Hall secured a majority on the City Council [during the 2023] municipal elections, winning seven of 13 seats."^[90] As of September 9, 2025, five of the seven progressive councilmembers endorsed Fateh, as well as one councilmember, Jamal Osman (D), who was not aligned with either the seven progressive councilmembers or councilmembers who typically supported Frey. Three councilmembers who typically supported Frey endorsed him.^[91][92]

Also running in the general were Andrea Revel, Troy Peterson, Kevin Ward, Xavier Pauke, Adam Terzich, Kevin A. Dwire, Charlie McCloud, Alejandro Richardson, Laverne Turner, Jeffrey Wagner, DeWayne Davis, Jazz Hampton, and Brenda Short.

Minneapolis used ranked-choice voting to elect city officials. Voters could rank up to three mayoral candidates on their ballots. Click here to learn more about how ranked-choice voting worked in this election.

Minneapolis has a strong mayor-council system. The city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor is considered the city's chief executive.^[93][94]

See also: Mayoral election in New Orleans, Louisiana (2025)

Helena Moreno (D) defeated 10 other candidates in the nonpartisan primary for mayor of New Orleans on Oct. 11, 2025. Moreno, Royce Duplessis (D), and Oliver Thomas (D) led in media attention. Incumbent Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D), who was first elected in 2017, was term-limited.

Louisiana elections use the majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate must win more than 50% of the vote to win the election outright. If no candidate received a majority of votes, the top two vote recipients from the primary would have advanced to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation. The general election would have taken place on Nov. 15, 2025, but was canceled.

Heading into the election, NOLA.com’s Sophie Kasakove and James Finn wrote that since New Orleans is a predominantly Democratic city in a state with a Republican trifecta, the three leading candidates "are trying to convince voters they’re best positioned to defend the city's autonomy and traditions, while still working to show they can reach across the aisle to advance the city’s agenda in one of the country’s most conservative states and at a time when federal threats to autonomy and funding loom."^[95]

Duplessis was first elected to represent District 5 in the Louisiana Senate in a 2022 special election. He previously represented District 93 in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 2018 to 2022.

Heading into the election, Duplessis said, "I have a bold vision for where New Orleans needs to go and what it will take to get us there. [...] As a parent, I want my seven-year-old daughter to inherit a city that is safe, prosperous, and equitable. For too long, we have settled for a community that survives from crisis to crisis. Our children deserve a city that thrives."^[96]

Moreno was first elected to represent an at-large seat on the New Orleans City Council in 2017. She served as the Council’s president from 2019 to 2023, and then she became its vice president. Moreno previously represented District 93 in the state House from 2010 to 2018.

Heading into the election, Moreno said, "Too many people are leaving New Orleans because our city doesn't work for them. But I'm ready to bring them home and keep you here. Enough of the same old ways. We do not have to settle for this. It's time for change. I have the experience and vision to make sure we have a city that works for everyone."^[97]

Thomas was first elected to represent District E on the New Orleans City Council in 2021. He previously represented District B on the Council from 1994 to 2002 and an at-large seat from 2002 to 2007. Thomas resigned from the Council in 2007 and served 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge.^[98][99]

Heading into the election, Thomas said, "As a father, former businessman, and lifelong community advocate, I bring a unique combination of lived experience and leadership. I understand how city government should work because I’ve seen it. I know what it means to serve the people, not just in title, but in action, and I’m ready to lead a New Orleans that works for everyone, with no one left behind."^[100]

Frank Janusa (R), Joseph Bikulege (Unaffiliated), Manny Chevrolet Bruno (Unaffiliated), Russell Butler (Unaffiliated), Eileen Carter (Unaffiliated), Renada Collins (Unaffiliated), Frank Scurlock (Unaffiliated), and Richard Twiggs Jr. (Unaffiliated) also ran in the election.

See also: Mayoral election in New York, New York, 2025 (June 24 Democratic primary)

Zohran Mamdani (D) defeated ten other candidates in the Democratic primary for Mayor of New York City on June 24, 2025. Mamdani received 56% of the vote in round 3 of ranked-choice voting to Andrew Cuomo's (D) 44%.^[101]

Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (D) was first elected in 2021. He initially ran in the primaries for re-election, but he withdrew on April 3 to run as an independent.^[102] On September 28, 2025, Adams announced that he was withdrawing from the general election.^[103]

The section below lists noteworthy candidates. To read more about how Ballotpedia defines noteworthy candidates, click here.

• Adrienne Adams was the speaker of the City Council. She ran on her record as speaker and supported a guaranteed income program for homeless families.^[104][105]
• Andrew Cuomo was governor of New York from 2011 until 2021. He campaigned on making the city more affordable and on fighting antisemitism.^[106][107]
• Brad Lander was the city comptroller. He campaigned on ending homelessness and reducing retail theft.^[108][109]
• Zohran Mamdani was a state assemblymember for District 36. He campaigned for a rent freeze on housing and for making city buses free.^[110][111]
• Zellnor Myrie was a state senator for District 20. He campaigned to address the cost of housing and to implement his plan to hire up to 3,000 new police officers.^[112][113]
• Jessica Ramos was a state senator for District 13. She campaigned to create an affordable citywide childcare program and to declare homelessness a public health emergency.^[114][115] On June 6, Ramos announced her endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, but said she was still a candidate for mayor.^[116]
• Scott Stringer was the city's comptroller from 2014 to 2022 and an unsuccessful candidate for mayor in 2021. He campaigned against government corruption and for making childcare more affordable.^[117][118]

For more information on the candidates and their platforms, click here.

The New York Times's Nicholas Fandos and Lisa Lerer wrote before the election, "The clash consuming New York City is one that has become almost routine in Democratic politics. On one side stands a moderate pragmatist who first took public office three decades ago. On the other is a democratic socialist half his age who has leaped past more seasoned rivals and captured the imagination of the left."^[119]

Candidate endorsements became a factor, and City & State NY's Sahalie Donaldson, Annie McDonough, and Holly Pretsky wrote that as the race progressed, "Alliances [began] to solidify."^[120] Former mayor Michael Bloomberg (D) endorsed Cuomo, and Columbia University professor Ester Fuchs said, "Bloomberg is the most critical and important endorsement for Cuomo in the primary. It’s a seal of approval for moderate voters who care about effectively governing the city."^[121] Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) endorsed Mamdani, and City University of New York professor John Mollenkopf said the endorsement could "make some difference. And in this tight race, some difference is valuable."^[122]

This was the third election in the city that used ranked-choice voting. The system allowed voters to rank up to five candidates, and if their first candidate was eliminated, their vote would be transferred to a different candidate. Voters could have picked only one candidate or ranked fewer than five. This system applied only to the primary election.^[123]

The New Republic's Grace Seger wrote before the election, "In these final weeks, the mayoral hopefuls are working to tailor their campaigns to train voters on what they need to do when they enter their voting booths."^[124] On June 13, Brad Lander and Zohran Mamdani endorsed each other.^[125] On June 16, Mamdani and Michael Blake (D) endorsed each other's campaigns.^[126] New York Daily News' Chris Sommerfeldt wrote that candidates endorsing each other had become increasingly common and said "a candidate who trails after the first round of vote tabulations could eventually prevail if they are ranked on ballots featuring other candidates as the number one choice."^[127]

Selma Bartholomew (D), Michael Blake (D), Paperboy Prince (D), and Whitney Tilson (D) also ran.

See also: Mayoral election in Oakland, California (2025)

Barbara Lee defeated Loren Taylor and seven other candidates in the April 15 nonpartisan, special general election for mayor of Oakland.^[128]

Incumbent Kevin Jenkins did not run for re-election. The Oakland City Council selected Jenkins to serve as interim mayor after voters recalled former Mayor Sheng Thao 60.6%-39.4% on November 5, 2024.^[129] Click here to learn more about the recall. This was the first time in the city's history that a mayor was successfully recalled.^[130]

Lee, Taylor, and Renia Webb led in media attention and endorsements.^[131]

Lee served in the U.S. House from 1998 to 2025 and placed fourth out of seven candidates in the 2024 U.S. Senate primary. Lee highlighted her record in Congress and as a state legislator, saying she "focused on local issues in terms of bringing home billions of dollars to make sure that my community benefits from my work on the national and state level." Lee also said she would focus on unifying the city around an agenda that prioritized public safety, housing, government accountability, and economic development and jobs.^[132]

Taylor was a member of the Oakland City Council from 2019 to 2023 and ran for mayor in 2022. In that race, Thao defeated Taylor 50.3%-49.7% after nine rounds of ranked-choice voting. Taylor ran on his record as a former city council member and his experience working as an engineer and consultant. He said, "We need new energy, fresh perspective, and a deliberate focus on making hard but necessary choices to get us through this current period. ... My vision for Oakland is that we are the safe, clean city that we know we can be, that we are full of opportunities, and we are founded on a solid foundation of fiscal solvency."^[132]

Webb was an elementary school teacher and worked as Thao's chief of staff when Thao was on Oakland's City Council.^[131] Webb also worked as a communications manager at Urban Lynx Consulting and a construction community liaison for the Oakland Unified School District.^[133] Webb's campaign website said, "My mission is to bridge the gaps, amplify underrepresented voices, and create a city where everyone can thrive."^[134] Webb also highlighted public safety, saying she saw how the issue affected her students: "When I hear stories of them telling me that their car got stolen the night before and their teddy bear was in it, and they couldn't sleep last night. You see the impacts that crime has on our city."^[132]

Lee, Taylor, and Webb all participated in a forum on February 18, 2025.^[131] At the forum, the candidates discussed public safety, homelessness, economic conditions, and government accountability.^[132] Click here to watch the forum. The League of Women Voters of Oakland also held a forum on March 15, 2025, including all nine candidates. During the forum, the candidates spoke about the city's budget, public safety, homelessness, and the city's form of government. Click here to learn more.

Before the election, Lee and Taylor led in campaign spending, with Lee spending more than $371,000 and Taylor spending more than $394,000.^[135] In the 2022 election, Thao and Taylor — the top two vote-getters — spent more than $450,000 and $593,000 respectively.^[136]

President Cristina Grappo, Peter Liu, Mindy Pechenuk, Suz Robinson, Eric Simpson, and Elizabeth Swaney also ran.

Liu and Robinson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read the responses.

This election happened at the same time as Measure A, a local ballot measure which asked voters to decide whether the city should enact a 0.5% sales and use tax for 10 years to provide general government funding. According to CBS News, "City leaders estimate the tax hike would generate approximately $30 million annually for Oakland's general fund, helping to close a projected $140 million budget deficit for the next fiscal year."^[137] Click here to learn more about the local ballot measure.

Oakland used ranked-choice voting (RCV) for this election, which asked voters to rank candidates by preference on their ballots. Click here to learn more about that process. The filing deadline for this election was January 17, 2025.

See also: Mayoral election in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2025 (May 20 Democratic primary)

Corey O'Connor (D) defeated incumbent Edward Gainey (D) in the Democratic primary for mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 2025.^[138] A Democrat had held the mayor's office since 1934.

Before the election, PennLive's J.D. Prose wrote, "With Pittsburgh remaining a solidly blue enclave in purple Allegheny County, the party’s primary race winner will be considered the de facto next mayor although there are two GOP mayoral candidates."^[139]

Gainey was first elected in 2021. He focused on his record in office and his campaign website said, "Homicides are down, the state of our infrastructure has improved, affordable housing options are growing, and basic services are faster — I’m proud of my record as Mayor, and excited about what we can still achieve, together."^[140] Gainey also campaigned to make housing more affordable, saying, "I want to build a city where everybody has an opportunity to live. To me, housing is a right. Housing is a right that everybody should have."^[141] U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and the United Steelworkers endorsed Gainey.^[142][143]

O'Connor was the controller of Allegheny County. He campaigned to build more housing and develop businesses and said, "We must create new affordable and workforce housing opportunities, and eliminate obstacles to housing construction. We must provide space for new businesses and entrepreneurs to choose Pittsburgh."^[144] He also campaigned on public safety and said he wanted to fund centers to "provide crisis support, homelessness resources, and emergency aid, giving first responders more tools to help residents quickly and effectively."^[145] The Allegheny County Democratic Committee and Pennsylvania's Laborers' Council endorsed O'Connor.^[146] The Democratic Committee previously endorsed Gainey over incumbent Bill Peduto (D) in 2021.^[147]

WESA's Chris Potter discussed the national implications of the race and wrote, "What happens outside of Pittsburgh no longer stays outside of Pittsburgh."^[148] Gainey criticized O'Connor for receiving $130,000 in donations from donors who previously supported Republican candidates.^[149] Gainey said, "There's one place I didn't expect to have to fend the MAGA assault, and that was the mayoral primary race." He added, "Trump's MAGA megadonors, his consultants and corporate interests, are trying to buy the mayor's office."^[150] O'Connor said he received donations from "people who want to donate because they see how much Pittsburgh is struggling." He also criticized Gainey for supporting Pittsburgh’s bid to host the Republican National Convention in Pittsburgh, saying, "So, I ask, who's progressive? Somebody who wants to stop Donald Trump or somebody who was willing to welcome Donald Trump and the Trump Republicans to Pittsburgh for their national convention?"^[151]

Pittsburgh was one of the 47 top 100 U.S. cities to use a strong mayor system of governance, meaning the mayor drafts budgets, sets policies, and can veto bills by the city council. To read more about the power mayors have in the top 100 cities in the country, click here.

See also: Mayoral election in San Antonio, Texas (2025)

Gina Ortiz Jones defeated Rolando Pablos 54.3% to 45.7% in the June 7, 2025, runoff election for mayor of San Antonio, Texas.

Ortiz Jones and Pablos advanced to the runoff from the nonpartisan general election on May 3. Ortiz Jones received 27.2% of the vote and Pablos received 16.6%. The two advanced to a runoff because neither received at least 50% of the vote.

Incumbent Ron Nirenberg, elected in June 2017, was term-limited. Though the office was nonpartisan, Nirenberg joined the Democratic Party in 2024 and was previously an independent.^[152] This was the city's first mayoral election in 16 years without an incumbent on the ballot.^[153]

The San Antonio Report's Andrea Drusch wrote, "The race to become San Antonio’s next mayor is headed toward a partisan showdown between one candidate loved by national Democratic Party leaders [Ortiz Jones] and another [Pablos] who has close ties to the Republicans who control every lever of power in Texas state government. ... Texas’ big city mayors have steadily become less progressive as traditional liberal incumbents termed out, and all eyes will be on San Antonio as Jones and Pablos face off in what is supposed to be a nonpartisan race."^[154] The runoff election did not feature any city council candidates. Drusch wrote, "Historically, San Antonio has shown preference for candidates with council experience. The city has elected just one mayor without it in 70 years — Phil Hardberger — making the dominance of City Hall outsiders in this race highly unusual."^[154]

Notable endorsements for Ortiz Jones included: former mayors Phil Hardberger and Julian Castro; congressmen Greg Casar (D) and Joaquin Castro (D); councilmembers Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Phyllis Viagran, and Teri Castillo; and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations. The San Antonio Police Officers’ Association, former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R), and Gov. Greg Abbott (R)-affiliated PAC, The Texas Economic Fund, endorsed Pablos.^[155][156]

Ortiz Jones served as undersecretary of the Air Force (2021-2024) in the Biden administration. She said she would focus on working families and young people, and would "work to bring down costs where we can, make smart investments in our future, and respect taxpayers by increasing transparency around how tax dollars are spent."^[157] Pablos served as Texas secretary of state from 2017 to 2018. He said his priorities were public safety, better-paying jobs, small businesses, government accountability, and basic city services such as affordable utilities, walkable neighborhoods, and enhanced drainage systems and garbage collection.^[158]

Heading into the May 3 election, the San Antonio Report's Leigh Munsil said the new mayor and city council would need to navigate "multiple city-shaping economic development efforts like a downtown stadium for the Missions baseball team and a possible relocation of the Spurs to Hemisfair ... [as well as] challenges of housing affordability, public safety and infrastructure, to name a few."^[159]

San Antonio, which was the seventh most populous city in the country as of May 2025, has a council-manager system, meaning the mayor represents one of 11 votes on the city council. The mayor and city council appoint a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.^{[152][160][161]}

This page covers the June 7, 2025, runoff. Click here for more on the general election.

See also: Mayoral election in Seattle, Washington (2025)

Katie Wilson defeated incumbent Bruce Harrell in the November 4 general election for mayor of Seattle.

Although Seattle’s mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan, both candidates were Democrats. This race was one of several 2025 mayoral contests that media outlets and political observers said highlighted splits in the larger Democratic Party, in this case between self-described Democratic socialist Wilson and the more centrist or moderate Harrell.^[162]

Wilson, a community activist and executive director of Seattle’s Transit Riders Union, described herself as both a Democratic socialist and a progressive Democrat.^[163] Wilson's campaign website said, “The incumbent mayor has been a fixture in city hall since 2008. More people are sleeping unsheltered on our streets than ever before. Working families are struggling to stay afloat. We can do so much better. And as we face unprecedented national threats, we must do better.”^[164][165] Several local Democratic organizations, including the King County Democrats, and Seattle’s 34th, 36th, 37th, and 43rd District Democrats endorsed Wilson. The Transit Riders Union, PROTEC17, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 3000 also endorsed Wilson.^{[166] [167]}

Harrell was first elected in 2021, when he defeated M. Lorena González 58.6%-41.2%. Before he was elected mayor, Harrell was a lawyer and a member of the Seattle City Council from 2008 to 2020. According to the Seattle Times, Harrell was the city's longest-serving politician.^[168]Media outlets described Harrell as a moderate or centrist Democrat.^[169] In interviews, Harrell said he had a record of sponsoring progressive legislation on the city council.^[170] Harrell ran on his record. His campaign website said, “We’ve delivered public safety solutions, kept parks and sidewalks open and accessible while moving people into shelter and housing with services, made historic investments in affordable housing, prioritized a transportation system focused on safety, and passed nation-leading climate legislation. But there is more work to do – this is the time for proven leadership.”^[171] Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg (D), Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D), Attorney General Nick Brown (D), and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) endorsed Harrell. ^[172]

Wilson's win made Harrell the city’s fourth consecutive mayor to serve a single term. The last incumbent to win re-election was Greg Nickels in 2005.^[173]

On September 11, 2025, City Inside/Out hosted a debate between Wilson and Harrell. During the debate, the candidates discussed housing, public safety, the city budget, and the mayor's role in responding to the Trump Administration's policies.^[174]

One issue the candidates differed on was funding for the city's new social housing developer, a public development authority created to develop, own, and maintain social housing in Seattle. On Feb. 11, Seattle voters approved Proposition 1A, a citizen initiative that established a new tax on payroll expenses to fund the social housing developer.^[173][174]

During the debate, Wilson said, "Seattle voters have twice told us now overwhelmingly that they want the city to build permanently-affordable, publicly-owned, mixed-income housing. ...We need city leadership that's going to fight to make it work. And Harrell … has done nothing but try to undermine that project."^[174]

Harrell said, "We have supported social housing corporation from the beginning. The only issue was how can it be funded. ... We wanted it to be funded in the existing payroll expense tax because we need those businesses to stay in Seattle."^[174]

Another topic the candidates differed on was the proposed use of CCTV surveillance technology in the city, which Harrell supported and Wilson opposed.^[174]

Wilson said, “The necessity of fighting Trump and protecting our immigrant and refugee communities and other vulnerable communities is exactly why I have grave concerns about the CCTV surveillance legislation, which our mayor supports and has transmitted to council. Because that proposal is to greatly increase the cameras around our city at a very sensitive time.”^[174]

Harrell said, “People of color and people from immigrants and refugees communities … are asking me for tools to become safe. We will address all of the concerns about federal overreach… I will never allow my community to be over-surveilled by government technology. The safeguards are in place… and I will issue another executive order to assure those people that have concerns that their issues are addressed.”^[174]

Seattle also held elections for city attorney and city council on November 4, 2025.

The filing deadline for this election was May 9, 2025.

See also: Mayoral election in St. Louis, Missouri (2025)

Cara Spencer defeated incumbent Tishaura Jones in the general election for mayor of St. Louis on April 8, 2025.^[175] This contest was a rematch of the 2021 election, in which Jones defeated Spencer 52% to 48%. Both candidates were affiliated with the Democratic Party.^[176]

In the four-person primary, which utilized approval voting, Spencer received 68% of the vote, and Jones received 33%. St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Austin Huguelt and Joe Holleman wrote that Spencer's performance was a "reversal from four years ago, when Jones beat Spencer by [four] percentage points."^[177] St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann, Jason Rosenbaum, Will Bauer, and Lacretia Wimbley wrote, "While the outcome of the primary was the same as in 2021, the underlying numbers look quite different."^[178]

Jones was first elected in 2021. She campaigned on her record and said, "We’ll be able to show people exactly where we have improved some of the things that they are most concerned about, and also let them know how we’re going to improve things in our second term."^[179] Jones said that she used pandemic funds to improve the city: "Homicides were at an all-time high and services weren’t being delivered. Fast forward to now and we’ve received pandemic relief funds and the first thing we did was to ask the community ‘what would you like to see’ with those funds. And we’ve invested in people, infrastructure and upgraded the government experience."^[180]

Spencer was a member of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, representing Ward 8. Spencer campaigned on reducing government corruption and said, "Governments are failing our communities, and the city of St. Louis is failing our communities. And if I’m elected mayor, what I’ll do to rebuild trust is root out corruption in every single city department…zero tolerance for corruption."^[180] She also campaigned on public safety. Her website said, "Public safety is Cara’s top priority... A safer St. Louis starts with action and Cara’s committed to ensuring every resident’s right to live in safety."^[181]

On March 8, the Democratic Party of St. Louis endorsed Spencer. The party's Central Committee Chair Sean Fauss (D) said the endorsement showed Spencer "was able to win from where I'm at in the south ward all the way into the farthest north ward, and the votes of committee people in between."^[182]

Eighteen percent of eligible voters turned out for the primary.^[183] Jones said her numbers in the general election would improve with increased turnout and that her strategy was to "make sure that people are aware that there is another election... and increas[e] turnout all over the city."^[184] Board of Aldermen president Megan Ellyia Green noted the possible effect that the supporters of the third and fourth-place primary finishers, Michael Butler and Andrew Jones Jr., could have on this race. She pointed to the potential influence of Butler's supporters for Jones and said she thought "a lot of the Butler vote will consolidate to the mayor."^[185]