Updated: Sept. 9, 2025, 9:41 p.m. ET • Source: NC State Board of Elections
District 5 late-night update: 33 votes apart with four precincts out
With 26 of 30 precincts reporting in Charlotte’s District 5 Democratic primary, Juan Diego (J.D.) Mazuera Arias leads Marjorie Molina 2,712 to 2,679. The margin is 33 votes at 50.31 percent to 49.69 percent. The tally is unofficial and may change as the county uploads remaining precincts and reconciles late ballots.
Key numbers
- Precincts reporting: 26 of 30
- Vote totals: Mazuera Arias 2,712; Molina 2,679
- Margin: 33 votes (about 0.61 percent)
- Outstanding: 4 precincts in District 5
- County status at this update: 88.17 percent of precincts reporting countywide; turnout 7.33 percent
Why District 5 matters
District 5 covers a large stretch of East Charlotte. Voters here have pressed for reliable bus service, safer arterials, consistent code enforcement, and housing stability that matches corridor growth. The winner will shape near-term bus reliability and code enforcement priorities on routes like Albemarle, Central, and Idlewild, and will influence how the council approaches the proposed county transportation sales tax in November.
What is left to count
- Four District 5 precincts are not yet posted to the county feed
- Provisional ballots must be researched before canvass
- Any accepted absentee-by-mail not yet uploaded may appear in later updates
- Certification follows the county canvass. Recount rules and timing are set by state law: NCSBE: Recounts.
Election math
To take the lead, Molina needs a net gain of at least 34 votes across the ballots still to be counted.
Where the candidates differ
- Transportation tax: Molina supports placing the one-cent transportation tax before voters. Mazuera Arias has stressed equity for East Charlotte and wants near-term bus improvements now.
- Neighborhood focus: Molina has emphasized district services and stability. Mazuera Arias centers renter protections, transparency, and participatory budgeting.
What to watch next
- Which outstanding precincts are higher turnout and how they split
- Any late uploads that move the margin
- Candidate statements about next steps, including a possible recount request if the final spread remains very tight
Keep up with our election hub
Start at The Charlotte Mercury. See the latest on News and Politics. For guides and live-night explainers, keep a tab open on Poll Dance 2025: Poll Dance 2025. If you spot something we should add, message us on Twix at @queencityexp. We read every note, even the ones sent after midnight.
About the Author
Jack Beckett drinks coffee strong enough to dissolve a spoon and files copy that way too. On a good night the espresso has three shots. On a great night the precincts report on time.
Curious about what we cover and why your screen is not packed with trackers? Start at The Charlotte Mercury. Our latest work lands on News. Our council and campaign reporting lives on Politics. For the full election hub with guides and explainers, see Poll Dance 2025. Reach us on Twix at @queencityexp.
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This article, “Charlotte City Council District 5 Democratic Primary: Mazuera Arias Leads Molina by 33 Votes; 4 Precincts Outstanding,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Charlotte City Council District 5 Democratic Primary: Mazuera Arias Leads Molina by 33 Votes; 4 Precincts Outstanding”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)