Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Hampton City Council Election 2026

3 of 7

council seats up

Vote for up to 3

6 candidates

Updated Oct 2, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check →

The candidates

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

City Council · Vote for up to 3

Chris L. BowmanFormer Hampton City Council member (2020 to 2024) and retired Eastern State Hospital director of operations. Holds a master's degree from Golden State University.9sourced
Steve L. BrownIncumbentVice Mayor and City Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 202611sourced
Michelle Taylor FerebeeIncumbentCity Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 202610sourced
Joseph M. "Joe" GriffithHampton Planning Commission member and Phoebus neighborhood commissioner since 2019. Works as a defense contractor and interactive museum designer and holds an MFA from the Academy of Art University.5sourced
Martha M. MuglerIncumbentCity Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 202610sourced
Aaron T. WeaverProduction planner and scheduler at Newport News Shipbuilding and leader of Bridge Builders in Greater Wythe. Previously worked in Hampton's 311 service and graduated from Hampton University.6sourced

Three of the seven council seats are on this ballot, all elected citywide; voters may choose up to three candidates, and the top three vote-getters win four-year terms.

1 note on these statements

Steve L. Brown, Martha M. Mugler, Michelle Taylor Ferebee, Chris L. Bowman, Joseph M. "Joe" Griffith and Aaron T. Weaver all answered audience questions at a Sept. 16, 2026 candidate forum at Third Baptist Church. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 17, 2026

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Randy C. Bowman Sr.City Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 20284sourced Carolyn S. CampbellCity Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 20286sourced Jimmy GrayMayor; term ends Dec. 31, 20288sourced Hope L. HarperCity Council member; term ends Dec. 31, 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 decidesData centers, Public camping ban, Budget and tax rate Key datesDeadlines and vote centers

Next date

Last day of early in-person voting

Sat, Oct 31, 2026

All key dates

What the next council decides

Data centers

Where it standsHampton's zoning code does not address data centers, and the city had received no proposals as of July 2026; a consultant is helping the city write a policy.

What's on the tableThe next council decides what zoning rules, if any, to adopt for data centers and whether to allow them.

Hampton hired the Southeastern Institute of Research on a $52,000 contract to help develop zoning policy around data centers. The Virginian-Pilot · Jul 10, 2026
The city planned at least one community roundtable before presenting a policy proposal in the fall. The Virginian-Pilot · Jul 10, 2026
Hampton City Council toured two data center facilities in Prince William County in April 2026. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 17, 2026

Public camping ban

Where it standsIn April 2026 the council voted 5-2 to ban camping and storing belongings on public property and asked staff to report back after six months.

What's on the tableAfter the six-month report, the next council decides whether to keep, change or revoke the ordinance.

A conviction under the ordinance is a Class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. City of Hampton · Apr 8, 2026
The council directed staff to report back in six months on services provided, enforcement and other data. City of Hampton · Apr 8, 2026
Vice Mayor Steven Brown and Council Member Michelle Ferebee voted no. 13News Now · Apr 9, 2026
In June 2025 the council deferred a vote on the original ordinance, which would have made violations a Class 1 misdemeanor. 13News Now · Apr 9, 2026

Budget and tax rate

Where it standsThe $708.6 million FY 2027 budget kept the real estate tax rate at $1.14 per $100 of assessed value.

What's on the tableThe next council adopts the FY 2028 budget and sets the real estate tax rate.

The FY 2027 budget totals $708,640,649, a 4.3% increase over the prior fiscal year. City of Hampton · May 14, 2026
The rate stayed the same after four consecutive years of reductions that lowered it from $1.22. City of Hampton · May 14, 2026
The council adopted the tax and fee ordinances 5-1 on May 13, 2026; Councilmember Campbell voted no, saying she would like the tax rate to go down. City of Hampton · May 13, 2026

Housing

Where it standsIn March 2026 the council approved, 6-1, rezoning commercial land at 2601 Cunningham Drive for an apartment building.

What's on the tableThe next council votes on rezonings and use permits for new housing and will shape a housing plan.

The Cunningham Drive project includes 44 apartments in one four-story building, every unit rented at or below 80% of market rate. Hampton Planning Commission · Feb 19, 2026
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the rezoning 6-0 in February 2026. Hampton Planning Commission · Feb 19, 2026
Councilmember Campbell cast the only no vote on the rezoning and use permit. City of Hampton · Mar 11, 2026

Collective bargaining for city employees

Where it standsThe FY 2027 budget includes no money to put collective bargaining for city employees in place.

What's on the tableThe next council decides whether and how to allow city employees to bargain collectively, and how to pay for it.

The city did not budget for collective bargaining implementation this cycle, but forecast that it may do so next year. City of Hampton · May 13, 2026
At a September 2026 forum, every City Council candidate except Martha Mugler spoke in support of collective bargaining for city employees. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 17, 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. How should Hampton handle data centers?
2. Should Hampton ban camping and storing belongings on public property?
3. What should happen to Hampton's real estate tax rate?
4. Should Hampton have rezoned 2601 Cunningham Drive for 44 apartments rented at or below 80% of market rate?
5. Should Hampton city employees be able to bargain collectively?

Seat the Council →

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

Key dates

Early in-person voting beginsThe Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026Sep 18, 2026
Last day of early in-person votingThe Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026Oct 31, 2026
Election DayThe Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026Nov 3, 2026

The seat math

4 stay (not up this year): Randy C. Bowman Sr., Carolyn S. Campbell, Jimmy Gray, Hope L. Harper3 on this ballot

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

Hampton City Council has seven members, including an elected mayor and a vice mayor who is selected from among the other six council members every two years. City of Hampton
The election is non-partisan and the top three vote-getters win four-year terms on the council. The Virginian-Pilot · Sep 22, 2026
The Virginia Department of Elections lists six qualified candidates for three Hampton City Council seats, all as Independents. Virginia Department of Elections
The mayor votes on council items along with the other six members. City of Hampton · Apr 8, 2026
The City Council appoints the city manager, the clerk of council and the city attorney. City of Hampton

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