Raleigh City Council Shifts to 4-Year Staggered Terms with a Primary in 2026
Editor’s Note: This information is accurate as of September 28, 2025. Always reference the Wake County Board of Elections for the most reliable and updated information on elections.
Raleigh voters will see important changes in how City Council elections are conducted beginning in 2026.
In 2024, City Council amended its Charter as permitted by law to:
Expand Council and Mayor terms from two years to four years,
Create staggered elections so that roughly half of Council is elected every two years, and
Adopt the nonpartisan primary and election method instead of the former “plurality” system.
Council adopted its Resolution of Intent on March 19, 2024, held a public hearing on April 2, and passed Ordinance (2024)-627 on May 7, 2024. These actions followed the process authorized by N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 160A-101 and 160A-102.
How Elections Will Work
Primary: If more than two candidates file for a single district or Mayor’s seat—or if more than double the number of candidates file for the two at-large seats—a nonpartisan primary will be held to narrow the field to two per seat.
Dates for 2026 elections:
Primary: March 3, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026
Filing Window for Candidates: December 1–19, 2025 (filed with the Wake County Board of Elections, under State Board of Elections procedures).
Which Seats Are 4-Year vs. 2-Year in 2026
The 2026 election will be a transition year:
Four-year terms (next up in 2030):
Mayor
District A
District B
One At-Large seat (the at-large candidate with the highest vote total)
Two-year terms (next up in 2028, then four years thereafter):
District C
District D
District E
The second At-Large seat (the at-large candidate with the second-highest vote total)
After 2028, all seats will be on four-year terms, with elections staggered every two years.
Why It Matters
This shift brings Raleigh into alignment with many peer cities that already use four-year staggered terms. Supporters argue it will:
Provide Council members more time to govern before facing re-election,
Reduce the intensity and cost of near-constant two-year campaigns, and
Strengthen continuity and institutional knowledge within City government.
What to Know if You’re Considering a Run
Filing Window:
Opens: Noon, Monday, December 1, 2025
Closes: Noon, Friday, December 19, 2025
Election Dates:
Primary: Tuesday, March 3, 2026
General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Who Can File:
Mayor & At-Large: Must be a registered voter residing in Raleigh.
District seats: Must live in the district you seek to represent.
Primary Rules:
Districts: More than two candidates → top two advance.
At-Large: More than four candidates → top four advance (two per seat).
For details, visit: Wake County Board of Elections or NC State Board of Elections.