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United States municipal elections, 2022

From Ballotpedia

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2023
2021
2022 municipal elections
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Ballotpedia covered municipal elections in 81 counties and 86 cities, including34 mayoral elections, in 2022. As of 2022, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections included elections on the ballot in the100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys ineach state capital.

To read about the five municipal elections that Ballotpedia designated asbattlegrounds in 2022—mayoral elections inAustin, Texas;Los Angeles, California; andMilwaukee, Wisconsin, the nonpartisan primary for Office 67 of the Superior Court ofLos Angeles County, and the Democratic primary for district attorney inMecklenburg County, North Carolinaclick here.

As of 2022, Ballotpedia tracked thepartisan 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:

Note: The statistics on this page do not include data from local elections in theU.S. territories.

2022 municipal battleground elections

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 asbattlegrounds.

Mayoral battlegrounds

See also:United States mayoral elections, 2022


  • Austin, Texas

    See also:Mayoral election in Austin, Texas (2022)

    Kirk Watson defeatedCelia Israel in the December 13, 2022, nonpartisan general runoff election for mayor ofAustin, 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.

    IncumbentStephen Adler did not run for re-election.

    At the time of the election, Israel served in theTexas House of Representatives, representingDistrict 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 theTexas State Senate, representingDistrict 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 approvedProposition 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 defeatedRick Caruso in the nonpartisan general election for mayor ofLos Angeles, California, on November 8, 2022. The candidates advanced from theJune 7 primary election since neither received 50% of the vote. Incumbent MayorEric Garcetti could not run for re-election due to term limits.

    Bass was first elected to public office in 2004 to serve in theCalifornia State Assembly. She served in the Assembly from 2005 to 2010 and was speaker from 2008 to 2010. Bass was elected to theU.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and representedCalifornia'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 toAxios, 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 ofCharter Amendment 1, which shifted city elections to even-numbered years beginning in 2020.

    Thecity 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 theDemocratic Party.Republicans held 28 mayoral offices,independents held four, and five mayors werenonpartisan. 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 MayorCavalier Johnson defeatedRobert Donovan inMilwaukee, Wisconsin's special general election for mayor on April 5, 2022.

    The special election was called after MayorTom 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. Johnsonsaid 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 the2016 mayoral election to Barrett 30% to 70%. Donovancampaigned 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

  • 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 andElizabeth Lashley-Haynes advanced to anonpartisan Nov. 8 runoff for Office 67 of theSuperior 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 theDemocratic Party.[23][24][25]

    TheLos 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 inLos 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 andendorsements.

    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] TheLos 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 theSuperior 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. Clickhere to learn more about judicial selection in California.

    Judges on theSuperior Court of Los Angeles County conduct all original trials in the county, except in cases where appellate level courts haveoriginal 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), andElizabeth Lashley-Haynes (Nonpartisan) completedBallotpedia'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)

    IncumbentSpencer Merriweather defeatedTim Emry in the May 17 Democratic primary for district attorney of North Carolina's 26th Prosecutorial District inMecklenburg 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 in2018, 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

See also:Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2022)

Twenty-four of the100 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:

Mayoral partisanship in state capitals

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

By state

Alabama

Alaska

  • Anchorage, Alaska - City council (regular & special), service area boards of supervisors, superior court judges, and district court judges
  • Juneau, Alaska - City council

Arizona

Arkansas

California

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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

Idaho

  • 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

  • Cook County, Illinois - Assessor, clerk, sheriff, treasurer, county commissioners, board of review, water reclamation board, circuit court judges, and subcircuit court judges

Indiana

  • Indianapolis, Indiana - Marion County Assessor, Marion County Auditor, Marion County Recorder, Marion County Sheriff, Marion County Small Claims Court, 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

Kentucky

  • 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

Maine

Maryland

  • Baltimore, Maryland - Register of wills, sheriff, state's attorney, circuit court clerk, circuit court judges, and orphans' court judges

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

  • 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
  • Platte County, Missouri - Auditor, clerk, presiding commissioner, prosecutor, recorder, tax collector, circuit court judges

Nebraska

  • Omaha, Nebraska - Public power district board
  • 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

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Dakota

Tennessee

  • 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

  • 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), water control and improvement district board, 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, emergency services district board, water control and improvement district board, regional water authority district 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, limited district board, municipal utility district board, library 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

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

U.S. territories

Northern Mariana Islands

Puerto Rico

  • 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

January 15

General

January 25

General

February 8

Primary

General

February 15

Primary

March 1

Primary

General

March 26

Primary

April 5

Primary

General

General runoff

April 30

General

May 1

General

May 3

Primary

General

May 7

General

May 10

Primary

General

May 17

Primary

General

May 24

Primary

Primary runoff

June 7

Primary

General

June 12

General

June 14

Primary

General

General runoff

June 18

General runoff

June 21

Primary

Primary runoff

General

June 28

Primary

July 12

General

July 16

General

July 19

Primary

July 26

Primary runoff

General

August 2

Primary

August 4

General

August 9

Primary

August 13

Primary

August 16

Primary

August 23

Primary

Primary runoff

General

September 13

Primary

September 20

Primary

October 4

General

November 8

Primary

General

General runoff

December 6

General

General runoff

December 10

General

December 13

General runoff

December 17

General runoff


List of mayors of the 100 largest cities

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

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 the100 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
YearCitiesMayorCity councilCounties
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

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
YearTotal seatsUncontestedIncumbents 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

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
YearTotal seatsUncontestedIncumbents 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

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
YearTotal seatsUncontestedIncumbents 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
76.4%
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

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

Local-politics-square.png
See also:United States municipal elections, 2022

In 2022, Ballotpedia covered elections for mayor, city council, and all other city officials in the100 largest cities by population in the United States, as well as elections for county officials whose jurisdictions overlapped with those cities.

Featured analysis

More related articles


See also

Footnotes

  1. Community Impact, "Election Q&A: Meet the candidates running for Austin mayor," October 18, 2022
  2. Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Celia Israel," October 12, 2022
  3. Austin Monitor, "Mayoral candidate Israel shares housing platform," June 23, 2022
  4. Celia Israel 2022 campaign website, "MOBILITY," accessed December 5, 2022
  5. Axios, "Five questions with Austin mayoral candidate Kirk Watson," October 17, 2022
  6. Kirk Watson 2022 campaign website, "Housing," accessed December 5, 2022
  7. 7.07.17.2KXAN, "Watch Austin mayor debate: Celia Israel, Kirk Watson discuss affordability, transportation, city’s future," December 1, 2022
  8. KXAN, "‘Very consequential’: Meet the candidates for Austin mayor," October 24, 2022
  9. KUT, "Austin’s next mayor will serve two years, not the usual four," October 19, 2022
  10. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Bass, Karen," accessed May 16, 2022
  11. YouTube, "Get It Done," May 9, 2022
  12. LinkedIn, "Caruso," accessed May 16, 2022
  13. Rick Caruso's campaign website, "Meet Rick Caruso," accessed May 16, 2022
  14. YouTube, "Faith, Family and Community," February 15, 2022
  15. Los Angeles Times, "Rick Caruso changes registration to Democrat as he weighs a run for L.A. mayor," January 24, 2022
  16. The New York Times, "Rick Caruso and Karen Bass head to a runoff in the Los Angeles mayor’s race.," June 8, 2022
  17. 17.017.1Axios, "Why L.A. mayor’s race matters," May 29, 2022
  18. Wisconsin Public Radio, "Johnson, Donovan advance to general election in Milwaukee mayoral race," February 15, 2022
  19. Urban Milwaukee, "Johnson Ceremonially Sworn In As Mayor," December 23, 2021
  20. PolitiFact, "'Republican Bob Donovan' has 'run as a Republican time and again,'" March 11, 2016
  21. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee mayoral candidates spar in first public appearance since Tuesday primary," February 20, 2022
  22. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee mayoral candidates vie for rare open seat. Here's what you should know." December 29, 2021
  23. 23.023.1Fernanda Maria Barreto's campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
  24. 24.024.1Ryan Dibble's campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
  25. 25.025.1Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes' campaign website, "Endorsements," archived May 20, 2022
  26. Los Angeles Times, "Endorsement: The Times’ recommendations for Los Angeles County Superior Court judges," May 13, 2022
  27. 27.027.1Fernanda Maria Barreto's campaign website, "About," accessed May 20, 2022
  28. LinkedIn, "Ryan Dibble," accessed May 20, 2022
  29. Voter's Edge, "Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes," accessed May 20, 2022
  30. Ryan Dibble's campaign website, "Ryan's Story," accessed May 20, 2022
  31. Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes'Candidate Connection survey
  32. Superior Court of Los Angeles County, "About the Court," accessed May 20, 2022
  33. District Attorney's Office, "About the DA," accessed May 4, 2022
  34. The Charlotte Observer, "A police boot to his ribs taught new DA a lesson in using power," November 27, 2017
  35. LinkedIn, "Spencer Merriweather," accessed May 4, 2022
  36. Charlotte Magazine, "Life Lessons: District Attorney Spencer Merriweather," October 24, 2018
  37. Spencer Merriweather 2022 campaign website, "About Spencer," accessed May 4, 2022
  38. 38.038.1The Charlotte Observer, "In Meck district attorney race, Merriweather talks adjustments, Emry promises deconstruction," April 25, 2022
  39. The Charlotte Post, "Our endorsements for the 2022 municipal primary elections," April 27, 2022
  40. Facebook, "Spencer Merriweather Meck DA," accessed May 4, 2022
  41. Tim Emry 2022 campaign website, "Meet Tim," accessed May 4, 2022
  42. Tim Emry 2022 campaign website, "No Police Union Money," December 22, 2021
  43. Tim Emry 2022 campaign website, "Key Issues," accessed May 4, 2022
  44. YouTube, "Never Seek the Death Penalty," April 15, 2022
  45. Real Justice, "About Real Justice," accessed May 4, 2022
  46. Real Justice, "Tim Emry," accessed May 4, 2022
  47. 47.047.1North Carolina Judicial Branch, "Court Officials," accessed May 4, 2022
  48. District Attorney's Office, "FAQs," accessed May 4, 2022
  49. Lee was elected as a Democrat and switched parties in 2021.
  50. In2021, 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 outBirmingham, Alabama, which had a Democratic mayor at the time, andSan Bernardino, California, with a Republican mayor, forSanta Clarita, California, with a Republican mayor, andSpokane, Washington, with a nonpartisan mayor.
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