United States municipal elections, 2023
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2023 municipal elections |
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Ballotpedia covered municipal elections in 30 counties and 77 cities, including 40 mayoral elections, in 2023. As of 2023, Ballotpedia's coverage scope for local elections included elections on the ballot in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys in each state capital.
To read about municipal elections that Ballotpedia designated as battlegrounds in 2023, click here.
As of 2023, Ballotpedia tracked the partisan affiliation of the mayors of the 100 largest cities and each state capital, including mayors of cities holding nonpartisan mayoral elections.[1]
Twenty-nine of the 100 largest U.S. cities held mayoral elections in 2023. Mayoral offices changed partisan control in five cities in 2023—four as the result of elections and one party switch—resulting in no net change in the number of offices held by Democrats and a net loss of two Republican-held offices. Libertarians and independents gained one office each. Once mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 26, Libertarians held one, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.
Eighteen state capitals held mayoral elections in 2023, including 11 capitals that fell outside of the top 100 cities. One state capital saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2023, resulting in a net gain of one office for Republicans and a net loss of one office for Democrats. After mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, there were 37 Democratic state capital mayors, six Republican mayors, one independent mayor, two nonpartisan mayors, and four mayors with unknown partisan affiliation.
On this page, you will find:
- 2023 municipal battleground elections
- Mayoral partisanship information
- Municipal elections by state and by date
- Mayors of the 100 largest cities
- Historical municipal election data
- More local election analysis
Note: The statistics on this page do not include data from local elections in the U.S. territories.
2023 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 as battlegrounds.
Mayoral battlegrounds
- See also: United States mayoral elections, 2023
Other municipal battlegrounds
Mayoral partisanship
Twenty-nine of the 100 largest cities held mayoral elections in 2023. Once mayors elected in 2023 assumed office, Democrats held 63 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 26, Libertarians held one, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held four. Two mayors' partisan affiliations were unknown.
The following top 100 cities saw a change in mayoral partisan affiliation in 2023:
- Colorado Springs, Colorado: Independent Yemi Mobolade defeated Republican Wayne W. Williams in the May 16 runoff election. Incumbent John Suthers, a Republican, was term-limited.
- Jacksonville, Florida: Democrat Donna Deegan defeated Republican Daniel Davis in the May 16 runoff election. Incumbent Lenny Curry, a Republican, was term-limited.
- Dallas, Texas: Mayor Eric Johnson announced on September 22 that he was changing his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.[85]
- Wichita, Kansas: Libertarian Lily Wu defeated incumbent Democratic mayor Brandon Whipple in the November 7 general election.
- Spokane, Washington: Democrat Lisa Brown defeated incumbent Republican mayor Nadine Woodward in the November 7 general election.
Municipal elections across the United States
By state
Alabama
- Montgomery, Alabama - Mayor and city council
- Jefferson County, Alabama - County commission (special)
Alaska
- Anchorage, Alaska - Assembly and service area boards of supervisors
- Juneau, Alaska - City assembly
Arizona
- Tucson, Arizona - Mayor and city council
California
- Chula Vista, California - City attorney (special)
- Los Angeles, California - City council (special)
- San Diego County, California - County board of supervisors (special)
- Santa Clara County, California - Community college district board (special)
Colorado
- Aurora, Colorado - Mayor and city council
- Colorado Springs, Colorado - Mayor and city council
- Denver, Colorado - Mayor, city council, city auditor, and city clerk and recorder
Connecticut
- Hartford, Connecticut - Mayor and city council
Delaware
- Dover, Delaware - Mayor and city council
Florida
- Hialeah, Florida - City council
- Jacksonville, Florida - Mayor, city council, supervisor of elections, property appraiser, sheriff, and tax collector
- Miami, Florida - City council
- Orlando, Florida - Mayor and city council
- Tampa, Florida - Mayor and city council
Idaho
- Boise, Idaho - Mayor, city council, and Greater Boise Auditorium District Board of Directors
Illinois
- Chicago, Illinois - Mayor, city clerk, city treasurer, city council, and police district councils
- Springfield, Illinois - Mayor and city council
Indiana
- Fort Wayne, Indiana - Mayor, city council, and city clerk
- Indianapolis, Indiana - Mayor and city council
Iowa
- Des Moines, Iowa - Mayor and city council
Kansas
- Topeka, Kansas - City council
- Wichita, Kansas - Mayor and city council
Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky - County clerk and commonwealth's attorney
- Louisville, Kentucky - City council, county commonwealth's attorney, county family court judge (special)
Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana - District court judge, assessor, clerk of court, coroner, family court judge, and sheriff
- New Orleans, Louisiana - Civil district court judges, criminal district court judge, and city court judge
Maine
- Augusta, Maine - City council
Massachusetts
- Boston, Massachusetts - City council
Michigan
- Lansing, Michigan - City council
Minnesota
- Minneapolis, Minnesota - City council
- St. Paul, Minnesota - City council
Missouri
- Jefferson City, Missouri - Mayor, city council, and city prosecutor
- Kansas City, Missouri - Mayor, city council, and municipal court
- St. Louis, Missouri - Board of aldermen and community college board
Montana
- Helena, Montana - City commission
Nebraska
- Lincoln, Nebraska - Mayor, city council, and Lincoln Airport Authority
Nevada
- Henderson, Nevada - City council (special election)
New Hampshire
- Concord, New Hampshire - Mayor and city council
New Jersey
- Essex County, New Jersey - Commissioners and surrogate court judge
- Hudson County, New Jersey - County executive and county commission
New Mexico
- Albuquerque, New Mexico - City council
- Santa Fe, New Mexico - City council
- Bernalillo County, New Mexico - Flood control board, community college board, and conservation district board
New York
- Buffalo, New York - City council, comptroller, and city court judge
- New York, New York - City council
- Erie County, New York - County executive, county legislators, and family court judges
- Bronx County, New York - District attorney, New York City Civil Court judges, and New York Supreme Court judges
- Kings County, New York - New York City Civil Court judges, New York Supreme Court judges, and Kings County Surrogate's Court judge
- New York County, New York - New York City Civil Court and New York Supreme Court judges
- Queens County, New York - District attorney, New York City Civil Court judges, and New York Supreme Court judges
- Richmond County, New York - District attorney and New York City Civil Court judge
North Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina - Mayor and city council
- Durham, North Carolina - Mayor and city council
- Guilford County, North Carolina - Sedgefield Sanitary District
Ohio
- Cincinnati, Ohio - City council
- Cleveland, Ohio - City council, municipal court clerk, municipal court judges, and municipal housing court judge
- Columbus, Ohio - Mayor and city council
- Toledo, Ohio - City council and municipal judge
- Fairfield County, Ohio - Educational service center and municipal court judge
- Franklin County, Ohio - Municipal court clerk, municipal court judges
- Hamilton County, Ohio - Municipal court judges
- Lucas County, Ohio - Educational service center
Oklahoma
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - City council
- Cleveland County, Oklahoma - County commission (special)
- Oklahoma County, Oklahoma - County clerk (special)
Oregon
- Portland, Oregon - Community college board
- Multnomah County, Oregon - County commission (special), community college board, and education service district
Pennsylvania
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - City council
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Mayor, register of wills, sheriff, city council, city commissioners, city controller (special), court of common pleas, and municipal court
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Controller and city council
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - County chief executive, controller, district attorney, treasurer, county council, court of common pleas judges, and magisterial district judges
South Carolina
- Columbia, South Carolina - City council
South Dakota
Tennessee
- Memphis, Tennessee - Mayor and city council
- Nashville, Tennessee - Mayor, vice mayor, and city council
Texas
- Arlington, Texas - Mayor and city council
- Dallas, Texas - Mayor and city council
- Fort Worth, Texas - Mayor and city council
- El Paso, Texas - City council (special)
- Garland, Texas - Mayor and city council
- Houston, Texas - Mayor, city council, and controller
- Irving, Texas - Mayor and city council
- Plano, Texas - City council
- San Antonio, Texas - Mayor and city council
- Bexar County, Texas - River authority board
- Collin County, Texas - Community college board of trustees
- El Paso County, Texas - Community college board of trustees
- Harris County, Texas - Community college board of trustees
- Tarrant County, Texas - College board and regional water district board
- Travis County, Texas - Library district board
Utah
- Salt Lake City, Utah - Mayor and city council
Vermont
- Montpelier, Vermont - Mayor and city council
Virginia
- Chesapeake, Virginia - Soil and water conservation director and treasurer (special election)
- Virginia Beach, Virginia - Soil and water conservation director
Washington
- Olympia, Washington - Mayor and city council
- Seattle, Washington - City council
- Spokane, Washington - Mayor and city council
- King County, Washington - King County Conservation District
- Spokane County, Washington - Superior court judge
Wisconsin
- Madison, Wisconsin - Mayor and city council
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin - City council and municipal court judges
- Milwaukee County, Wisconsin - County board of supervisors and circuit court judges
By date
February 14
Primary
General election
February 21
Primary
February 27
Special election
February 28
General election
March 7
Primary
General election
March 21
General election
March 25
Primary
March 28
Special election
April 3
General election
- Henderson, Nevada (special)
April 4
Primary
General election
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Los Angeles, California (special)
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Denver, Colorado
- Springfield, Illinois
- Jefferson City, Missouri
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
General runoff
April 18
General election
April 25
General runoff election
April 29
General election
May 2
Primary
General election
May 6
General election
- Arlington, Texas
- Dallas, Texas
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Garland, Texas
- Irving, Texas
- Plano, Texas
- San Antonio, Texas
- Collin County, Texas
- El Paso County, Texas
- Tarrant County, Texas
May 16
Primary
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
General election
General runoff
June 6
Primary
General election
General runoff
June 10
General runoff
June 13
Primary
June 18
General election
June 20
General election
June 27
Primary
- Buffalo, New York
- New York, New York
- Erie County, New York
- Bronx County, New York
- Kings County, New York
- New York County, New York
- Queens County, New York
- Richmond County, New York
General runoff
July 25
Special election
August 1
Primary
- Tucson, Arizona
- Topeka, Kansas
- Wichita, Kansas
- Seattle, Washington
- Spokane, Washington
- Olympia, Washington
- King County, Washington
- Spokane County, Washington
August 3
General election
August 8
Primary
General runoff
August 15
Primary
August 22
General election
September 12
Primary
General election
September 14
General runoff
October 3
General election
General runoff
October 5
General election
October 10
Primary
Primary runoff
October 14
Primary
November 7
Primary
General election
- Tucson, Arizona
- Chula Vista, California
- San Diego County, California
- Santa Clara County, California
- Aurora, Colorado
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Miami, Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Boise, Idaho
- Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Topeka, Kansas
- Wichita, Kansas
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Louisville, Kentucky
- Augusta, Maine
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Lansing, Michigan
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- St. Paul, Minnesota
- Helena, Montana
- Concord, New Hampshire
- Essex County, New Jersey
- Hudson County, New Jersey
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Bernalillo County, New Mexico
- Buffalo, New York
- New York, New York
- Bronx County, New York
- Erie County, New York
- Kings County, New York
- New York County, New York
- Queens County, New York
- Richmond County, New York
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Durham, North Carolina
- Guilford County, North Carolina
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Columbus, Ohio
- Toledo, Ohio
- Fairfield County, Ohio
- Franklin County, Ohio
- Hamilton County, Ohio
- Lucas County, Ohio
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Allegheny, Pennsylvania
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Houston, Texas
- Bexar County, Texas
- Harris County, Texas
- Travis County, Texas
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Olympia, Washington
- Seattle, Washington
- Spokane, Washington
- King County, Washington
- Spokane County, Washington
November 16
General runoff
November 18
General election
November 21
General election
General runoff
December 5
General runoff
December 9
General election
General runoff
List of mayors of the 100 largest cities
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 30.8 mayoral elections and 54.8 city council elections each year between 2014 and 2022. From 2014 to 2016, our coverage scope included the 100 largest U.S. cities by population. In 2017, Ballotpedia began covering the counties that overlap those cities, as well. In 2021, our coverage scope expanded to include the mayors, city councils, and district attorneys in the 32 state capitals that fell outside the 100 largest U.S. cities.
This section includes statistics for mayoral elections, city council elections, and county elections between 2014 and 2022, 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 2022, 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 2022 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Cities | Mayor | City council | Counties |
Mayoral elections
Between 2014 and 2022, 66.8% of incumbent mayors sought re-election; of these, 16.8% 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.