Now Accepting Applications for the Vacant Mayoral Seat

Published on June 02, 2026

An exterior street view of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Government Center

Qualified Charlotte residents can now apply to be considered for the recently vacated mayoral seat. The application period opens today and will close on Tuesday, June 9, at 5 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted.

North Carolina state statutes allow for council vacancies to be filled through an appointment process. In cities like Charlotte, where elections are conducted on a partisan basis, the person appointed must be a member of the same political party as the person being replaced.

Applicants must:

Be a registered Democrat
Be a registered voter in Mecklenburg County
Be 21 years of age or older
Reside within the corporate boundaries of the city
Be qualified to vote in City Council elections

Timeline for the appointment process:

Tuesday, June 2: Application process opens
Tuesday, June 9: Application process closes (5 p.m.)
Thursday, June 11: Completed applications provided to City Council
Monday, June 15, or Tuesday, June 16: In-person Candidate Forum for applicants
Monday, June 22: City Council makes appointment
Wednesday, July 1: Swearing-in ceremony for interim mayor appointee

The selected applicant will be formally sworn in on July 1 and begin serving immediately. The interim mayor appointee will serve until the candidate elected in the November 2027 municipal elections assumes the role.

Interested applicants may apply by completing the online application form or by submitting a completed application via email to cityclerk@charlottenc.gov. All questions must be answered in full for the application to be considered.

For questions about the process to fill the mayoral seat vacancy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@charlottenc.gov or 704-336-2248.