2023 Durham mayoral election
The 2023 Durham mayoral election was held on November 7, 2023, to elect the mayor of Durham, North Carolina. Incumbent mayor Elaine O'Neal, the first black woman elected to the position, chose to retire after a single two-year term.
The nonpartisan blanket primary was held on October 10. City councilor Leonardo Williams and state senator Mike Woodard advanced to the general election. Williams defeated Woodard by a wide margin.
Primary election
Candidates
Advanced to general
Eliminated in primary
- Charlitta Burruss, community advocate and candidate for mayor in 2021
- Jontae Dunston
- DeDreana Freeman, city councilor
- Nick Pettiford, retail store manager
- Marshall Williams Jr., board member for Preservation Durham and sales specialist
- Sylvester Williams, pastor and perennial candidate
Declined
- Mark-Anthony Middleton, city councilor and mayor pro tempore
- Elaine O'Neal, incumbent mayor
- Kenneth Spaulding, former North Carolina state representative from the 16th district