Krista Bokhari: District 6 Republican Candidate
Biography and Background
Krista Bokhari is running as a Republican for the Charlotte City Council’s District 6 seat in the 2025 election. She was born in Camden, New Jersey, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Radford University in 2003.
She lives in South Charlotte with her husband, Tariq Bokhari, a former District 6 councilman who resigned in 2025 to become Deputy Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration. They have three children. Professionally, she is a former marketing director and describes herself as a long-time advocate for families, schools, and neighborhood initiatives.
Campaign Context
District 6, covering SouthPark and affluent south-Charlotte neighborhoods, has historically been one of the few Republican-leaning districts on council. Losing it would leave Democrats with full control of all 11 seats.
Krista Bokhari faces competition from fellow Republican Sary Chakra in the September 9 primary, with the winner meeting Democrat Kimberly Owens in the November 4 general election.
Policy Platform and Priorities
Bokhari’s platform blends traditional GOP themes—public safety, fiscal restraint, and protecting neighborhood character—with social-policy advocacy.
- Public Safety: Supports CMPD, wants tougher approaches to repeat offenders, and has raised concerns about juvenile justice reforms.
- Education & Mental Health: Advocates for structured literacy programs and the creation of a behavioral health center.
- Housing & Development: Criticizes what she calls “reckless density,” positioning herself against rapid up-zoning and high-rise projects in SouthPark.
- Transit & Infrastructure: Her platform emphasizes “smart infrastructure,” but offers limited specifics on major issues like light-rail expansion, bus rapid transit, or the proposed countywide sales tax for transit.
- Environment: Her campaign does not include an environmental plank, despite Charlotte’s adoption of a Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP).
Strengths
- Deep roots in District 6 schools and neighborhoods, giving her a strong grassroots network.
- Alignment with the district’s suburban, wealthier, historically Republican demographics.
- Endorsements from the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9, Mental Health NOW, and Parents for Educational Freedom in NC.
- Name recognition from her husband’s tenure and networks.
Vulnerabilities
- Critics charge her with practicing dynastic politics after she lost an April 2025 council appointment vote to Edwin Peacock, when Mayor Vi Lyles broke a 5-5 tie.
- Her opposition to density may resonate with homeowners but risks alienating younger voters concerned about affordability.
- Reported no fundraising contributions as of June 30, 2025, and only $209 in expenditures, suggesting a weak campaign infrastructure.
- A 2024 loss in NC House District 104 raises questions about her broader electability.
About the Author
Jack Beckett is senior writer at The Charlotte Mercury. Fueled by too much coffee (cold brew, because deadlines don’t wait), he covers Charlotte politics with both precision and a raised eyebrow. When not sifting through council agendas, he’s explaining why local zoning laws matter more than your favorite latte art.
Explore all we publish at The Charlotte Mercury — with coverage across News, Business, Housing, and Politics. Check out our special election series Poll Dance 2025; Join the Dance at Election 2025. For the fine print (and the not-so-fine print), see our Privacy Policy, About Us, Terms of Service, Media, and Contact Us.
And yes, you can always message us on X.com, or Twitter, or as we call it Twix: x.com/queencityexp.
Creative Commons License
© 2025 The Charlotte Mercury / Strolling Ballantyne
This article, “Krista Bokhari: 2025 District 6 Republican Candidate Profile,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.
“Krista Bokhari: 2025 District 6 Republican Candidate Profile”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)