August 13, 2025
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Charlotte 2025 City Council Candidate Guide: District-by-District

What this is and how to use it

Charlotte, you asked for clarity. Here’s a candidate guide you can trust, built for voters in Mecklenburg County who want the receipts with their rhetoric. It covers the district races you’ll actually see on your ballot this fall. Key election dates are set by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections and Ballotpedia: primary Tuesday, September 9, possible runoff Tuesday, October 7, general election Tuesday, November 4. (Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, Ballotpedia)
For early voting sites and hours, start with the county’s official pages. (Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, NCSBE)

District 1 — Democratic Primary

Charlene Henderson El

Who she is: A Charlotte native, business owner, and former radio personality. Previously ran in the 2022 District 1 primary and the 2023 at-large primary. Member of the Black Political Caucus. (Ballotpedia)
Campaign footprint: Personal site outlines a people-first pitch and community-centric bio. Recent forum appearance at the Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum placed her head-to-head with the incumbent. (Charlene Henderson, Tuesday Forum Charlotte)
Prior runs: Finished second to Dante Anderson in the 2022 D1 primary; finished fifth of six in the 2023 Democratic at-large primary. (Ballotpedia)
On the 1-cent transit tax: Most council candidates signaled support at a recent forum; positions vary by candidate. Check our transit notes below to see how District 1 contenders line up. (Charlotte Observer, Mass Transit Magazine)

District 2 — General Election

Malcolm Graham (Democrat, incumbent)

Who he is: District 2 representative, former state senator, long-time council member with deep roots in West Charlotte and a high public profile connected to Beatties Ford Road revitalization and the Corridors of Opportunity program. (City of Charlotte, Ballotpedia, Axios)
Current committee lane: Economic development, minority contracting, and corridor investment are recurring themes. (Tuesday Forum Charlotte, City of Charlotte, WFAE)
Public statements and policy cues: Has championed targeted investments in under-resourced corridors and recently weighed in on the “city plumbers” proactive code-enforcement concept. Campaign site lays out priorities across safety, mobility, housing, and economic mobility. (WFAE, Malcom Graham | Proven Leadership)

District 3 — One of the city’s most closely watched races

Tiawana Deling Brown (Democrat, incumbent)

Status note: Federally indicted in May on wire-fraud-related charges tied to pandemic relief funds; she has pleaded not guilty and is seeking re-election. Coverage and the U.S. Attorney’s release detail the allegations; Brown has said publicly she accepted and repaid a single loan. (Department of Justice, WFAE, Axios)
Why it matters: The legal cloud shapes the field dynamics and could depress or galvanize turnout, which has historically been low in D3 primaries. (Axios)

Montravias King (Democrat)

Who he is: Public policy advocate and nonprofit management professional with environmental and accountability planks; running a “people-first” message focused on safety, growth, and mobility. (Montravias King)
Context: Launched to challenge the incumbent amid the federal case, emphasizing steady governance. (The Charlotte Post)

Joi Mayo (Democrat)

Who she is: Former middle-school math teacher turned community advocate; platform includes affordable housing, equitable development, and neighborhood-level empowerment. (Joimayo)

Warren F. Turner (Democrat)

History on council: Served 2003-2011. A 2010 outside investigation for the city concluded there was “sufficient evidence” he sexually harassed a city employee; council voted 6-3 against censure. Turner denied the allegations at the time. For primary-source clarity, see the investigator’s report and contemporary coverage. (media.charlotteobserver.com, https://www.wbtv.com, WFAE)

James H. Bowers (Republican)

Who he is: GOP nominee in 2023 and candidate again in 2025. Prior general-election results show D3’s steep Democratic lean. (Ballotpedia)

District 4 — Democratic Primary Rematch

Renee Perkins Johnson (Democrat, incumbent)

Who she is: Founder and executive director of Triumph Services, with long-running work in trauma and brain-injury support; first elected in 2019. Campaign pages highlight an equity-and-accountability frame and willingness to buck consensus. (City of Charlotte, reneeperkinsjohnson.com)
Record and results: Won the 2023 primary against Wil Russell and the 2023 general; heads into a 2025 rematch. (Ballotpedia)

Wil Russell (Democrat)

Who he is: Affordable-housing construction manager with a focus on “better housing” and clean-community basics. Campaign events and organizing infrastructure are active. (www.wilrussell.com, Mobilize)
Why this race matters: It’s a clear contrast between an incumbent emphasizing process accountability and a challenger rooted in delivery on housing and basic services. Local outlets are framing it as a true rematch. (WSOC TV)

District 5 — Democratic Primary

Marjorie Molina (Democrat, incumbent)

Who she is: Elected in 2022; background includes banking and a stint at DreamKey Partners helping Spanish-speaking families access housing assistance; positions herself as a results-focused East Charlotte advocate. (City of Charlotte, Mark Speed)
Campaign footprint: Platform and “accomplishments” page stress housing protections and east-side investment. (Mark Speed)

Juan Diego “J.D.” Mazuera Arias (Democrat)

Who he is: Organizer and policy advocate, District 5 chair of Hispanic Democrats; DACA-informed story featured in Spanish-language press; campaign centers on lifting East Charlotte voices. (JD for Charlotte, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Enlace Latino NC)

District 6 — Competitive South Charlotte seat

Kimberly Owens (Democrat)

Who she is: Real-estate attorney and business professional; pitching “walkable, safe, well-served” neighborhoods with transit improvements and growth management. The Democratic primary was canceled—Owens advanced to November. (Owens For City Counc, Ballotpedia)

Krista Bokhari (Republican)

Who she is: Former state House candidate, spouse of former D6 council member Tariq Bokhari. Filed in July after seeking appointment to the vacancy earlier this year. Messaging includes criticism of perceived council “backroom deals.” (WFAE, WSOC TV)

Sary Chakra (Republican)

Who he is: GOP contender in the September 9 Republican primary; public info currently centered on Ballotpedia and party lists. (Ballotpedia, republicanwomengc.com)

Why D6 matters: It’s one of two Republican-held districts on an 11-member body and flipped control would change the council’s margin on growth, spending, and transportation votes. Appointment coverage and filing-week stories show the stakes. (WCNC, WFAE)

District 7 — General Election

Ed Driggs (Republican, incumbent)

Who he is: Finance background; Princeton economics; long-time District 7 representative for Ballantyne and the southern arc. Campaign site and city bio outline a steady-hands approach on growth and fiscal policy. (City of Charlotte, Ed Driggs for Charlotte City Council)
Ballot status: The Republican primary was canceled; Driggs advanced and is filed for November. (Ballotpedia)

The transit tax everyone keeps asking about

Charlotte leaders are trying to place a 1-cent countywide transportation sales tax on the 2025 ballot. The revenue would be steered to roads, buses, and rail if the legislature authorizes a referendum and commissioners put it before voters. Coverage in January, then again this month, details the policy path and the candidate split visible at a Black Political Caucus forum. (Axios, Charlotte Observer)

Key dates and how to vote in Mecklenburg

Bookmark the county’s voter info hub and early-voting explainer if you’re new to one-stop voting. (Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, NCSBE)

Source notes, candidate pages, and records

Pillar links and special coverage

The Fine Print

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About the Author

Jack Beckett writes like a man who replaced his blood with cold brew sometime in 2011. When he’s not chasing campaign filings and zoning minutiae, he’s sipping a double espresso and muttering about transit maps like they’re modern art. The Charlotte Mercury lives on caffeine and curiosity—both ethically sourced.

What you’ll find on our site: in-depth explainers that don’t waste your time, neighborhood stories that center real people, and election coverage that reads like a briefing, not a billboard. Start at The Charlotte Mercury, then hop to News, Business, Housing, and Politics. Our 2025 special, Election 2025, is where we park voter guides, forums, and the occasional spicy chart. Want the backstory on how we operate and why we don’t track you? See About Us and our Privacy Policy. Need to syndicate, pitch, or gripe? Media and Contact Us. And yes—you can always message us on X, or Twitter, or as we call it, Twix, at @QueenCityExp.

Creative Commons License

© 2025 Strolling Ballantyne / The Charlotte Mercury
This article, “Charlotte 2025 City Council Candidate Guide: District-by-District, With Records, Priorities, and Key Dates,” by Jack Beckett, is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

“Charlotte 2025 City Council Candidate Guide: District-by-District, With Records, Priorities, and Key Dates”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)