August 31, 2025
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Malcolm Graham, District 2: Record, Committees, Corridors, Transit, and 2025 Ballot

Jack Beckett010 mins

Malcolm Graham, District 2

Who he is

Malcolm Graham represents Charlotte’s District 2, which includes Uptown and the Historic West End. He chairs the City Council’s Jobs & Economic Development Committee and also serves on Transportation, Planning & Development. See his official profile for committee listings and biography in the city directory: City Council — Malcolm Graham and the committee page for current roles: Jobs & Economic Development Committee. Charlotte NC+1

A Charleston native and Johnson C. Smith University graduate, Graham worked in supplier diversity and corporate roles before founding the Center for Supplier Diversity. Since 2020 he has been Executive Director of Beds for Kids, a Charlotte nonprofit furnishing families exiting homelessness. Sources: City bio and WFAE profile of Beds for Kids. Charlotte NCWFAE

He previously served on Council from 1999–2004 and then in the N.C. Senate (District 40) from 2005–2015. Electoral history and current 2025 status appear on Ballotpedia. WikipediaBallotpedia

District 2 at a glance

District 2 includes the central business district plus West End neighborhoods such as Third and Fourth Wards, Wesley Heights, Seversville, Smallwood and Biddleville. District mapping resources: Council Districts GIS and District 2 map (PDF) on the city site. Charlotte Open DataCharlotte NC

Key assets include Five Points Plaza, the CityLYNX Gold Line Phase 2 stop serving JCSU, and anchor corridors like Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry. Learn more: CityLYNX Gold Line and Five Points Plaza coverage. Wikipediahttps://www.wbtv.com

Corridors of Opportunity (Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry): City materials cite $147+ million invested across the six corridors to date. Program overview: Corridors of Opportunity and the West End corridor detail page: Beatties Ford/Rozzelles Ferry. Charlotte NC+1

What he chairs and why it matters

As chair of Jobs & Economic Development, Graham is one of the principal stewards of the city’s small-business and entrepreneurship agenda. Recent items included a startup ecosystem report and partnerships such as Operation HOPE and gener8tor accelerators. See: Startup Ecosystem report announcement and City–gener8tor accelerator launch. Charlotte NC+1

Record on key votes

Bank of America Stadium renovations (June 24, 2024): Council approved the city’s $650 million contribution in a 7–3 vote. WFAE reported the individual roll call, listing Graham among “yes” votes. Reference: WFAE coverage. WFAE

Quality-of-life ordinances (Feb. 12, 2024): Council voted 7–3 to restore criminal penalties for several public-order offenses after months of debate. City summary and reporting: City newsroom explainer and WFAE coverage. Charlotte NCWFAE

Airport labor standards request (June 24, 2025): Council declined to send a worker-standards proposal for Charlotte Douglas contractors to committee after a tie-breaking vote by the mayor. Coverage: WSOC-TV and WFAE. WSOC TVWFAE

Transit, taxes, and the new authority

The MTC adopted an updated Transit System Plan on May 28, 2025. Reference materials: CATS Plans & Projects page and MTC’s fast-facts PDF: Transit System Plan Fast Facts. Charlotte NCHDP US Prod App

On July 1, 2025, the governor signed the P.A.V.E. Act, authorizing Mecklenburg County to place a one-cent sales-tax referendum on the November ballot and setting up a path toward a regional transit authority and a 60/40 split between transit and roads. See Axios’ summary: Axios — PAVE Act signed. Axios

In late 2024 and early 2025, Graham publicly stressed the timeline risk and the need for state approval to even hold a vote. Examples: WCNC and Charlotte Observer. WCNCCharlotte Observer

Governance notes to watch

In May, Graham called for an investigation into leaks around a closed-session settlement with the police chief, reflecting his emphasis on internal process as well as policy. Analysis and quotes: WFAE — “Are plumbers coming to fix Charlotte’s leaks?”. WFAE

Community work and personal background

Graham’s civic portfolio includes the Cynthia Graham Hurd Center for Literacy & Civic Engagement, created with his family after his sister was murdered in the 2015 Mother Emanuel AME shooting. He released a 2025 book, The Way Forward: Keeping the Faith and Doing the Work Amid Hatred and Violence, discussed on WFAE’s Charlotte Talks and available via his site: KeepTheFaithDoTheWork.com. WFAEThe Way Forward

2025 ballot status

For 2025, the Democratic primary for District 2 was canceled; Graham advances to the Nov. 4 general election. Details: Ballotpedia — Charlotte elections 2025. Ballotpedia

How to contact

City office: 704-336-6105 • Email: Malcolm.Graham@ci.charlotte.nc.us • Address: 600 E. Fourth St., Charlotte, NC 28202. Official profile: City Council — Malcolm Graham. Charlotte NC

Where to go next on The Charlotte Mercury

Notes on sources embedded above

About the Author

Jack Beckett drinks coffee the way South End pours concrete: early, often, and with no apologies. You can find deep dives across our site’s pillars: The Charlotte Mercury, browse our Pillar Content, and jump straight into beats like News, Business, Housing, and Politics. For our slightly unhinged but scrupulously sourced election project, see Poll Dance 2025: Join the Dance. Want to gripe, tip, or send latte recommendations? Ping us on Twix — yes, X or Twitter — at @queencityexp. Prefer formalities? See Privacy Policy, About Us, Terms of Service, Media, or Contact Us.

Creative Commons License

© 2025 The Charlotte Mercury / Strolling Ballantyne
This article, “Malcolm Graham, District 2: Record, Committees, Corridors, Transit, and 2025 Ballot,” by Jack Beckett is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0.

“Malcolm Graham, District 2: Record, Committees, Corridors, Transit, and 2025 Ballot”
by Jack Beckett, The Charlotte Mercury (CC BY-ND 4.0)

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