United States municipal elections, 2018

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2018 Municipal ElectionsMunicipal Government Final.png

2018 Elections By State
2018 Elections By Date


Elections were held in 56 of the 100 largest cities by population in 2018. This included elections for 25 mayoral offices, as well as elections for county officials whose jurisdictions overlap with those cities.

Out of the twenty-five mayoral elections held in 2018 in the country's 100 largest cities, two party changes occurred. In Lexington, Kentucky, Republican Linda Gorton was elected to succeed former Democratic Mayor Jim Gray, who ran for the U.S. House of Representatives. Also, Republican Bob Dyer was elected mayor of Virginia Beach, Virginia, succeeding interim Mayor Louis Jones, who was an independent.

One 2018 race, in Phoenix, Arizona, was decided in a 2019 runoff election; mayoral control flipped from Republican to Democratic in the runoff.

Once mayors elected in 2018 assumed office, Democrats held 61 top-100 mayoral offices, Republicans held 30, independents held four, and nonpartisan mayors held four. One mayor's partisan affiliation was unknown.

At the end of 2016, Democratic mayors oversaw 64 of the 100 cities, while at the end of 2017, Democrats held the mayorship of 63 of the country's largest 100 cities.

Click on the tabs below for links to all of Ballotpedia's municipal election coverage by state and by date. Click here to read more about the influence of political parties in municipal politics and policy.

Battleground elections summary

Ballotpedia designated certain 2018 elections as battlegrounds, due to those races being either particularly competitive, interesting, or meaningful to the future balance of power in that jurisdiction. Here is a summary of some key 2018 municipal battleground elections:

  • In Austin, Texas, incumbent Mayor Stephen Adler defeated 2014 rival and councilmember Laura Morrison and four other challengers. He sought re-election for a second and final term in office against the backdrop of several major natural disasters and the Austin bomber attacks.[1]
  • A special mayoral election was called in San Francisco, California, after former Mayor Ed Lee died of a heart attack in 2017. Immediately after his death, Board of Supervisors President London Breed became acting mayor. A few weeks later, the board voted to replace her with fellow board of supervisors member Mark Ferrell. The board indicated they wanted an interim mayor who was not also running for the seat and emphasized the need to preserve the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches.[3] According to the San Francisco Examiner, members of the black community spoke out against displacing Breed, who is black. African American Chamber of Commerce President Fred Jordan said the decision was "disrespect to the black community.”[3] Breed eventually won the election.
  • A special mayoral election was also called in Nashville after former Mayor Megan Barry resigned in March 2018. Barry pleaded guilty to felony theft charges relating to her affair with the Nashville police officer in charge of her security detail. She agreed to resign as part of her plea agreement on those charges.[4] Acting Mayor David Briley won the election.[5]
  • The Baltimore state's attorney primary election occurred in June 2018. Baltimore saw 343 murders in 2017, which set the background for the race deciding who would be the city's top criminal prosecutor. Incumbent Marilyn Mosby (D) defeated two challengers to earn the Democratic nomination.[6] No Republican opposed Mosby in the November 6 general election.

Municipal partisanship

Once mayors elected in 2018 assumed office, Democrats held mayorships in 61 of the 100 largest cities in the country. Out of the twenty-five mayoral elections that were held in 2018 in the 100 largest cities, two party changes occurred. In the election in Lexington, Kentucky, Republican Linda Gorton won the seat, replacing former Democratic Mayor Jim Gray. In Virginia Beach, Virginia, Republican Bob Dyer won the seat, replacing former independent Mayor Louis Jones. Click here to learn more.

Municipal elections across the United States

By state

The following map shows the municipal elections covered by Ballotpedia in 2018. States not highlighted in blue may have held municipal elections that were not covered by Ballotpedia.

Alabama


Alaska


Arizona


California

  • Alameda County, California - County board of supervisors, County board of education, flood control board of directors, County superintendent of schools, County assessor, County auditor-controller/clerk recorder, District attorney, County sheriff/coroner, County treasurer-tax collector, Superior court judges, community college boards, Union Sanitary District, Water District directors, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) directors, East Bay Municipal Utility District board, Washington Township Healthcare District board, and East Bay Regional Park District board
  • Anaheim, California - Mayor and city council
  • Bakersfield, California - City council
  • Chula Vista, California - Mayor, city council, and city attorney
  • Fremont, California - City council
  • Fresno, California - City council
  • Fresno County, California - County clerk, county board of supervisors, county assessor recorder, county auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector, district attorney-public administrator, county sheriff-coroner, county superintendent of schools, superior court judges, irrigation district board, community college district board, park district board, memorial district board, water district board, and public utility district board
  • Irvine, California - Mayor and city council
  • Kern County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor-recorder, county auditor-controller-county clerk, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, superior court judges, county board of education, community college district governing board, water agency board, and community services district board
  • Long Beach, California - Mayor, city council, city attorney, city auditor, and city prosecutor
  • Los Angeles County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor, county sheriff, college district governing board, water district boards, and superior court judges
  • Oakland, California - Mayor, city council, and auditor
  • Orange County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor, county auditor-controller, district attorney-public administrator, county sheriff-coroner, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, county clerk-recorder, college district boards, water district boards, hazard abatement district, and superior court judges
  • Riverside County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor-clerk-recorder, county auditor-controller, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county treasurer-tax collector, county superintendent of schools, county board of education, water district board, college district board, and superior court judges
  • Sacramento, California - City council
  • Sacramento County, California - County board of supervisors, county board of education, county assessor, county sheriff, district attorney, fire district board, utility district board, water district boards, flood control district board, college district trustees, and superior court judges
  • San Bernardino, California - Mayor and city council
  • San Bernardino County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor/recorder, county auditor-controller/treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff/coroner/public administrator, county superintendent of schools, college district board members, water district board members, and superior court judges
  • San Diego, California - City council
  • San Diego County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor/recorder/county clerk, county treasurer/tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff, county board of education members, college district members, irrigation district board members, water district members, health care district members, and superior court judges
  • San Francisco, California - Mayor, board of supervisors, city assessor-recorder, public defender, county board of education members, superior court judge, and seats on the college board
  • San Joaquin County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor-recorder-clerk, county treasurer-tax collector, district attorney, county sheriff-coroner-public administrator, county board of education, county auditor-controller, county superintendent of schools, water district board, college district board, irrigation district board, fire protection district board, and superior court judges
  • San Jose, California - Mayor and city council
  • Santa Ana, California - Mayor and city council
  • Santa Clara County, California - County board of supervisors, county assessor, county sheriff, district attorney, superior court judges, county board of education, college district boards, water district board, and special districts
  • Stockton, California - City council


Colorado

  • Adams County, Colorado - County commissioner, county clerk, county treasurer, county assessor, county sheriff, county surveyor, and county coroner
  • Arapahoe County, Colorado - County commissioner, county clerk, county treasurer, county assessor, county sheriff, and county coroner
  • Denver, Colorado - Local court judges
  • El Paso County, Colorado - County commissioner, county clerk, county treasurer, county assessor, county sheriff, county surveyor, and county coroner


Florida


Georgia


Hawaii


Idaho

  • Ada County, Idaho - County commissioner, district court clerk, county treasurer, county assessor, county coroner, county highway district commissioner, and College of Western Idaho trustee


Illinois

  • Cook County, Illinois - County commission president, county commissioner, county assessor, county clerk, county sheriff, county treasurer, county board of review commissioner, circuit court judgeships, and subcircuit court judgeships


Indiana

  • Allen County, Indiana - County commissioner, county council, county assessor, county recorder, county sheriff, county auditor, circuit court clerk, and prosecuting attorney
  • Marion County, Indiana - County clerk of the circuit court, county auditor, county sheriff, county assessor, county recorder, Marion County Superior Court judges


Kansas


Kentucky

  • Lexington, Kentucky - Mayor, county commission, commonwealth's attorney, circuit court clerk, county judge/executive, county attorney, county clerk, county sheriff, coroner, property valuation administrator, city council, constables, local judgeships
  • Louisville, Kentucky - Mayor, county commission, commonwealth's attorney, circuit court clerk, county judge/executive, county attorney, county clerk, county sheriff, coroner, property valuation administrator, city council, constables, local judgeships, special district board members


Louisiana

  • Orleans Parish, Louisiana - District court judge, district court clerk, traffic court judgeships, city court judge, city court clerks, city court constable


Maryland

  • Baltimore, Maryland - State's attorney, clerk of the circuit court, register of wills, sheriff, and orphans' court


Massachusetts


Michigan


Minnesota


Missouri

  • Clay County, Missouri - County commissioner, county clerk, prosecuting attorney, county collector, recorder of deeds, county auditor, and local judgeships
  • Jackson County, Missouri - County executive, county legislator, and sheriff
  • Platte County, Missouri - County commissioner, county clerk, prosecuting attorney, county collector, recorder of deeds, and county auditor
  • St. Louis, Missouri - Collector of revenue, license collector, recorder of deeds, community college board, and Ward 8 alderman (special election)


Nebraska

  • Douglas County, Nebraska - County commissioner, county assessor, county attorney, county clerk of the district court, county engineer, county sheriff, county treasurer, and special district board members
  • Lancaster County, Nebraska - County commissioner, county assessor, county attorney, county clerk of the district court, county engineer, county sheriff, county treasurer, public defender, county clerk, and special district board members


Nevada

  • Clark County, Nevada - County commissioner, county assessor, county clerk, district attorney, justice of the peace, district judge, public administrator, county recorder, county treasurer, and county sheriff
  • Las Vegas, Nevada - City council (special election)
  • North Las Vegas - Constable
  • Reno, Nevada - Mayor, city council, and city attorney
  • Washoe County, Nevada - County commissioner, county assessor, county clerk, district attorney, justice of the peace, district judge, public administrator, county recorder, county sheriff, and county treasurer


New Jersey


New Mexico


New York


North Carolina

  • Durham County, North Carolina - District attorney, county sheriff, clerk of court, special district board members, and local judgeships
  • Forsyth County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, county sheriff, district attorney, special district board members, and local judgeships
  • Guilford County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, and special district board members
  • Mecklenburg County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, special district board members, and local judgeships
  • Wake County, North Carolina - County commissioner, clerk of superior court, district attorney, county sheriff, special district board members, and local judgeships


Ohio


Oklahoma


Oregon


Pennsylvania


Tennessee

  • Davidson County, Tennessee - Chancery court, county clerk, criminal court clerk, criminal court judge, general sessions court judge, juvenile court clerk, public defender, register of deeds, sheriff, trustee, metro council (special election)
  • Nashville, Tennessee - Mayor (special election)
  • Shelby County, Tennessee - County mayor, county commissioner, county trustee, property assessor, county sheriff, circuit court clerk, probate court clerk, juvenile court clerk, county clerk, and county register


Texas


Virginia


Washington


Washington, D.C.

  • Washington, D.C. - Mayor, city council, attorney general, shadow U.S. Senator, shadow U.S. Representative


Wisconsin


By date

February 13

General election

February 20

Primary election

March 6

Primary election

March 20

Primary election

March 27

General election

April 3

General election

April 10

Primary election

May 1

Primary election

General election

May 5

Primary election

General election

May 8

Primary election

General election

May 15

Primary election

May 22

Primary election

General election

Special primary election

June 5

Primary election

General election

June 12

Primary election

June 19

Primary election

Special general election

June 26

Primary election

August 2

General election

August 7

Primary election

General election

August 11

Primary election

August 14

Primary election

August 28

Primary election

Special election

September 11

Primary election

September 13

Primary election

November 6

December 8

See also

Local Politics 2018 Election Analysis
Local Politics Image.jpg
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Municipal government
Local courts
School boards
Local ballot measures
Local recalls

Municipal elections, 2018
Local court elections, 2018
School board elections, 2018
Local ballot measure elections, 2018
Political recall efforts, 2018

Municipal: Partisanship in United States municipal elections
Local: Preemption conflicts between state and local governments
Local: Sanctuary policy preemption conflicts between the federal and local governments
Local: Local government responses to the sharing economy (ridesharing/homesharing)

Footnotes