Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Asheville Mayor & City Council Election 2026

4 of 7

council seats up

2 contests

8 candidates

Updated Oct 3, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

Mayor · 1 seat

Esther ManheimerIncumbentMayor of Asheville since 2013, first elected to the City Council in 2009. She chairs the council's Policy, Finance & Human Resources Committee.11sourced
Kim RoneyMusic educator, small-business owner and Asheville City Council member since 2020. She is a founding member and former station manager of 103.3 AshevilleFM.10sourced

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Every voter picks the mayor and up to three council members; all seats are elected citywide.

1 note on these statements

The March 3 primary narrowed 20 council candidates to six; all three incumbents advanced. BPR · Mar 3, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Bo HessCouncil member; term ends December 20286sourced Sage TurnerCouncil member; term ends December 20286sourced

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

Start here

Match quiz5 questions · answers stay on your phone Seat the CouncilPick winners, see the council What council decidesBudget and property taxes, Housing and zoning, Police surveillance technology Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)

Fri, Oct 9, 2026

In 4 daysAll key dates

What the next council decides

Budget and property taxes

Where it standsThe council closed a projected $30 million gap for fiscal 2026-27 and adopted the budget 4-3 in June.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts the 2027-28 budget and sets the property tax rate.

Asheville faced a projected $30 million budget gap for fiscal 2027, closed through spending adjustments and changes to the property tax rate. Mountain Xpress · Sep 4, 2026
The fiscal 2026-27 budget passed 4-3 with a general fund tax rate of $0.3769 per $100 of assessed value. Asheville City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
Voters approved $80 million in general obligation bonds in November 2024; the ballot estimated the debt would need a 2.58-cent tax rate increase. Asheville City Council minutes, March 24, 2026 · Mar 24, 2026

Housing and zoning

Where it standsIn August 2026 the council voted unanimously to allow duplexes in all residential zoning districts.

What's on the tableThe next council decides further changes to the Unified Development Ordinance, the city's zoning rulebook.

The duplex amendment allows duplexes in all residential zoning districts and some mixed-use districts. Asheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
The same night the council raised the maximum size of accessory dwelling units to 1,000 square feet and dropped their parking requirement. Asheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026
In May 2026 the council unanimously denied a conditional zoning request for 99999 Caribou Road. Asheville City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026

Police surveillance technology

Where it standsThe council voted 6-1 in May to fund a police real-time intelligence center, then 5-2 in August to end the city's Flock license plate reader contract.

What's on the tableThe next council decides which surveillance tools police may use and under what rules.

In May 2026 the council accepted a $1,141,255.56 federal grant toward a real-time intelligence center, 6-1. Asheville City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
The same night it approved an Axon contract bundling body cameras, Tasers, drones and FUSUS software, 6-1. Asheville City Council minutes, May 12, 2026 · May 12, 2026
In August 2026 the council directed the city manager to end the Flock contract covering the city's 11 license plate readers, 5-2. Asheville City Council minutes, August 25, 2026 · Aug 25, 2026

Private council check-ins

Where it standsCouncil members hold private briefings with staff in groups of three or fewer, which are not subject to public records requests.

What's on the tableThe next mayor and council decide whether to keep these check-in meetings.

Check-in meetings are private briefings involving three or fewer council members that are not subject to public record requests. Mountain Xpress · May 28, 2026
Kim Roney has said ending the check-ins would be one of her priorities as mayor. Mountain Xpress · May 28, 2026

Boards and commissions

Where it standsAbout 110 residents on 15 advisory boards are on pause, replaced by four recovery boards.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether to restore the paused boards and in what form.

The city's traditional boards and commissions, about 110 residents across 15 advisory groups, are on pause and were replaced by four major recovery boards. Mountain Xpress · Sep 4, 2026
A resident-led realignment working group has made recommendations on how the boards should work. Mountain Xpress · Sep 4, 2026

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. When the city budget falls short, what should come first?
2. Should Asheville allow duplexes and other small multi-unit homes in neighborhoods now zoned for single-family houses?
3. Should Asheville police set up a real-time intelligence center that uses cameras and license plate readers?
4. Should the council end its private small-group check-in meetings with staff?
5. Should the city bring back its paused advisory boards and commissions?

Seat the Council →

Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.

Key dates

Primary electionBPR · Mar 3, 2026Mar 3, 2026
Voter registration deadline (5 p.m.)NC State Board of ElectionsOct 9, 2026
In-person early voting begins (same-day registration available)NC State Board of ElectionsOct 15, 2026
In-person early voting ends (3 p.m.)NC State Board of ElectionsOct 31, 2026
Election DayNC State Board of ElectionsNov 3, 2026

The seat math

2 stay (not up this year): Bo Hess, Sage Turner4 on this ballot

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

The City Council has a mayor and six council members, all elected at-large to four-year, staggered terms. City of Asheville
The mayor is chosen on a separate ballot, presides over council meetings and has no veto. City of Asheville
The mayor votes on council items as one of seven members; the fiscal 2026-27 budget passed 4-3 with all seven present. Asheville City Council minutes, June 9, 2026 · Jun 9, 2026
The council appoints the vice mayor and appoints and removes the city manager. City of Asheville
City elections are nonpartisan; a March 3 primary narrowed the council field to six candidates for three seats. Ballotpedia

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