The mayor of Raleigh is Janet Cowell, who took office in December 2024 after winning the November 2024 election with about 60 percent of the vote.1Ballotpedia. Janet Cowell She succeeded Mary-Ann Baldwin, who did not seek a third term.
Who Janet Cowell Is
Cowell comes to the job with a longer government résumé than most Raleigh mayors in recent memory. She served on the Raleigh City Council from 2001 to 2004, then in the North Carolina State Senate starting in 2004. In 2008 she was elected North Carolina State Treasurer, becoming the first woman to hold that position, and served until 2017.2North Carolina Department of State Treasurer. History of North Carolina Treasurers Before politics, she worked as a financial analyst at HSBC Bank and Lehman Brothers.1Ballotpedia. Janet Cowell
In the 2024 race, Cowell took 59.8 percent of the vote with more than 131,500 ballots. Her nearest competitor, Eugene Fitts, finished with roughly 18.4 percent.3WRAL. Former State Treasurer Janet Cowell to Become Next Raleigh Mayor
What the Mayor Actually Does
Raleigh runs on a council-manager form of government, so the mayor is not the city’s chief executive. A professional city manager, appointed by the City Council, handles daily operations, proposes the operating budget, and oversees city staff. The council also appoints the city clerk and city attorney.4City of Raleigh. Raleigh’s Council-Manager Form of Government
The mayor presides over council meetings and represents Raleigh at official functions. Under state law, the general management of the city rests with the council as a whole, not the mayor individually.5North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 160A-67 – General Powers of Mayor and Council The mayor is a regular voting member of the eight-person council, with one vote alongside two at-large members and five district representatives, and has no veto over ordinances.4City of Raleigh. Raleigh’s Council-Manager Form of Government The office carries less formal authority than mayors in strong-mayor cities, but it shapes which issues reach the council and how public debate is framed.
What She’s Focused On
Cowell has named housing, public safety, and transportation as her top priorities. On housing, she has pushed mixed-income, mixed-use development to keep up with Raleigh’s growth. On safety, she wants higher pay for police officers and firefighters to improve retention and staffing. On transportation, the city is continuing its Bus Rapid Transit project and the S-Line rail expansion.
The proposed 2026–27 city budget totals $1.77 billion and funds 23 additional police officers, 12 firefighters, and six emergency communications call-takers.6WRAL. City of Raleigh Budget Proposal Would Increase Taxes, Focus on Public Safety
When Raleigh Votes Next
The next municipal election is November 3, 2026.7North Carolina State Board of Elections. Upcoming Election Candidate filing opens at noon on July 6, 2026, and closes at noon on July 17, 2026.8North Carolina State Board of Elections. Candidate Deadlines
The 2026 cycle also brings a structural change. In May 2024, the City Council passed Ordinance (2024) 627, moving the mayor and council from two-year terms to four-year staggered terms. During the transition, half the council will run for two-year terms expiring in 2028, and the other half for four-year terms expiring in 2030.9City of Raleigh. City Council Terms and Compensation
How to Reach the Mayor’s Office
The office is in the Raleigh Municipal Building at 222 W. Hargett Street, 2nd Floor, Raleigh, NC 27601.10City of Raleigh. City Council You can call 919-996-3050 or email janet.cowell@raleighnc.gov.11City of Raleigh. Janet Cowell To write the full council, use citycouncilmembers@raleighnc.gov.