CharlotteNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Charlotte Mayor & City Council Election 2026

5 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 12 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting begins at Carmel Township Hall (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters elect the mayor and two at-large council members citywide, and one council member in each of the two districts; only the mayor's race has more than one name on the ballot.

Early voting begins at Carmel Township Hall · Oct 24

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    • Jocelyn Benson · Democratic Party
    • John James · Republican Party
    • Anthony Hudson · Libertarian Party
    • Donna Brandenburg · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas Campbell · Green Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate
    • Abdul El-Sayed · Democratic Party
    • Mike Rogers · Republican Party
    • Lydia Christensen · Libertarian Party
    • Tim Long · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas P. Marsh · Green Party
    • Walter P. Kristy · Natural Law Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideSecretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education · Regent of the University of Michigan · Trustee of Michigan State University · Justice of Supreme Court
  • Statewide measures2 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Emergency services special assessment4 sourced facts

Where it standsIn 2026 the council renamed and expanded the city fire assessment into an Emergency Services and Vehicles special assessment covering police, fire and ambulance costs.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees how the assessment money is spent and whether to change it.

02License plate cameras4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city's Flock license plate cameras are turned off while the City Attorney reviews their policy and vendor contract.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to turn the cameras back on and under what rules.

03M-79 (Lawrence Avenue) lane conversion3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council asked MDOT to convert M-79 (Lawrence Avenue) from four lanes to three: one lane each way with a center turn lane.

What's on the tableThe next council will respond to how the new layout works and any requests to change it.

04City-run building inspections3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council is moving building inspections from Eaton County to the city, with an outside firm doing the work.

What's on the tableThe next council oversees the new building department and its fees.

05Purchasing and bidding rules3 sourced facts

Where it standsCity policy requires sealed bids for projects over $20,000, and the council has debated when staff may skip formal bids.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to waive bids on individual contracts and whether to change the purchasing policy.

3 notes on these statements

Only the mayor's race is contested: Jeffrey A. Christensen, Justin Brummette, Wendy K. Cornish and Brian Neumann are the only candidates for their council seats. Eaton County · Aug 20, 2026

Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Rodriguez announced in April 2026 that he will not seek re-election. Charlotte City Council minutes, April 27, 2026 · Apr 27, 2026

The League of Women Voters and Eaton County 4All scheduled a mayoral debate between Kevin Fullerton and Joseph Chin Jr. for September 30 at the Charlotte Community Library. The County Journal

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Should Charlotte fund police, fire and ambulance costs through the Emergency Services and Vehicles special assessment?

  2. 2. Should the city's license plate cameras stay off until the legal review of their policy and contract is done?

  3. 3. Should M-79 (Lawrence Avenue) be converted from four lanes to three, with a center turn lane?

  4. 4. Should Charlotte run its own building inspections instead of using Eaton County?

  5. 5. Should the council waive formal bids for some contracts over the city's bid limit?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted7 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

1 stay (not up this year): Curtis Scott5 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Charlotte has operated under the council-manager form of government since July 1, 1962. City of Charlotte
  • The City Council consists of the mayor and six council members. City of Charlotte
  • Two council members are elected from each of the city's two wards, while two council members and the mayor are elected at-large. City of Charlotte
  • All terms are four years, and beginning with the November 2026 election, city elections are held in even-numbered years. City of Charlotte
  • The mayor's race on the November 3, 2026 ballot is for a partial term ending December 1, 2028. Eaton County · Aug 20, 2026
  • In December 2025, after a wave of resignations, the council voted Kevin Fullerton in as mayor and appointed Justin Brummette to an open council seat. WILX · Dec 22, 2025

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