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Carlos Clanton
2025 - Present
2028
0
Carlos Clanton is a member of the Norfolk City Council in Virginia, representing Superward 7. He assumed office on January 1, 2025. His current term ends on December 31, 2028.
Clanton ran for election to the Norfolk City Council to represent Superward 7 in Virginia. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Clanton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Carlos Clanton was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from Maury High School. He graduated from Tidewater Community College in 2013 and earned a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University in 2018. His career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive director.[1]
Clanton has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court
- Governor’s School for the Arts
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Phi Lambda Chapter
- National Urban League Young Professionals
- Visit Norfolk
- Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce
Elections
2024
See also: City elections in Norfolk, Virginia (2024)
General election
General election for Norfolk City Council Superward 7
Carlos Clanton defeated Phillip Hawkins, Rodney Jordan, Christine Smith, and Leon Judge in the general election for Norfolk City Council Superward 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Carlos Clanton (Nonpartisan)  | 22.6 | 8,384 |
 | Phillip Hawkins (Nonpartisan) | 22.3 | 8,292 | |
 | Rodney Jordan (Nonpartisan) | 21.6 | 8,028 | |
| Christine Smith (Nonpartisan) | 19.1 | 7,076 | ||
| Leon Judge (Nonpartisan) | 13.6 | 5,054 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.8 | 302 | ||
| Total votes: 37,136 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- James Graham (Nonpartisan)
Endorsements
To view Clanton's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Clanton in this election.
2022
See also: Norfolk Public Schools, Virginia, elections (2022)
General election
General election for Norfolk Public Schools, Ward 3
Incumbent Carlos Clanton defeated Mark Askew Sr. and John Sitka III in the general election for Norfolk Public Schools, Ward 3 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Clanton (Nonpartisan) | 49.5 | 4,903 |
| Mark Askew Sr. (Nonpartisan) | 41.6 | 4,125 | ||
 | John Sitka III (Nonpartisan) | 8.2 | 812 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 74 | ||
| Total votes: 9,914 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
- See also: Norfolk Public Schools elections (2018)
General election
General election for Norfolk Public Schools, Ward 3
Carlos Clanton defeated Jackie Glass and Ronel Brewer in the general election for Norfolk Public Schools, Ward 3 on May 1, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carlos Clanton (Nonpartisan) | 40.5 | 717 |
 | Jackie Glass (Nonpartisan) | 38.6 | 683 | |
| Ronel Brewer (Nonpartisan) | 20.0 | 354 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 17 | ||
| Total votes: 1,771 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Carlos Clanton completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Clanton's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My leadership experience includes serving as the youngest Director of the Norfolk Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce and as a former National President of the National Urban League Young Professionals. I’ve worked closely with organizations like the Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court and the Governor’s School for the Arts Regional Board, advocating for youth and working families.
I’m running for Norfolk City Council, Superward 7, to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe, strong, and thriving. I believe in common-sense solutions and collaboration to tackle Norfolk’s challenges. I am proud to have received endorsements from the Hampton Roads Chamber, Hampton Roads Realtors Association (HRRA), YIMBY Hampton Roads, and the Tidewater Virginia Federal Employees Metal Trades Council AFL-CIO.
As the leading candidate in this 5-way race, I am ready to serve our community and continue making Norfolk a place where everyone can succeed.- Enhancing Public Safety: My campaign is focused on making Norfolk safer by fully funding our police department, improving community policing, and supporting initiatives for non-violent offenders to gain workforce skills. Safety is the foundation of a thriving community, and I am committed to collaborating with residents and law enforcement to address crime at its root, ensure accountability, and promote trust between police and the public.
- Promoting Affordable Housing and Economic Growth: I believe in expanding access to affordable housing by legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and supporting policies that lower the cost of homeownership and rental opportunities. My campaign also focuses on fostering economic growth by encouraging local business development, job creation, and investments in sustainable infrastructure that benefits all of Norfolk’s diverse communities.
- Investing in Quality Education: As a member of the Norfolk City School Board, I’ve worked to ensure our children have the resources they need to succeed. I will continue advocating for collaboration between the City Council and School Board to ensure Norfolk’s schools are well-funded, modernized, and supported with career and technical programs. I believe in the power of education to break cycles of poverty and create opportunities for every student to thrive.
Integrity is critical to public service. As a Norfolk City School Board member and Executive Director of Friends of the Portsmouth Juvenile Court, I have always made decisions with transparency and accountability. I’ve built a track record of serving the community’s best interests, from advocating for increased school funding to supporting youth programs.
Empathy is at the heart of my approach. Growing up in Norfolk’s Lambert's Point and Park Place communities, I know firsthand the challenges many families face. I’ve worked to amplify the voices of those who are often unheard, striving to create opportunities that lift up all residents, particularly the underserved. My goal is to build a more inclusive and equitable city.
Vision is essential to address Norfolk’s long-term challenges. I’m committed to ensuring our city’s growth is sustainable, whether by promoting affordable housing initiatives like legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or investing in the modernization of our schools. I believe in forward-thinking policies that will benefit all residents and neighborhoods.
Collaboration is a cornerstone of my leadership. Whether on the School Board or in community organizations, I’ve consistently worked to build consensus and bring people together. I will continue to foster partnerships between city officials, community leaders, and residents to create practical solutions that improve the lives of all Norfolk citizens.
I want to leave a legacy of making Norfolk safer and more inclusive. Through my work on the Norfolk City School Board and in community organizations, I’ve prioritized the well-being of our residents. I’ve been a strong advocate for fully funding our police department while promoting community-based policing strategies that build trust. At the same time, I’ve championed youth and workforce development programs to give non-violent offenders second chances. My hope is to leave behind a city where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported.
In housing, I want to be remembered for helping expand affordable and diverse housing options. I’ve advocated for policies such as legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and reducing minimum lot size requirements to ensure more people have access to stable, affordable housing. My legacy would reflect the belief that everyone in Norfolk deserves a safe, affordable place to call home.
Education is another pillar of the legacy I hope to leave. As a Norfolk City School Board member, I’ve worked to modernize our schools and ensure every student has access to the resources they need to succeed. I want future generations to see that my efforts helped build a stronger, more equitable educational system that prepares students for a successful future.
Hampton Roads Chamber
Hampton Roads Realtors Association (HRRA)
Tidewater Virginia Federal Employees Metal Trades Council AFL-CIO
YIMBY Hampton Roads
Moms Demand Action ‘Gun Sense Candidate’ (2018, 2022, 2024)
State Senator Angelia Williams Graves
Councilwoman Danica Royster
Sheriff Joe Barron
Councilman Tommy Smigiel, Jr.
Delegate Phi Hernandez
Commonwealth Attorney Ramin Fathi
Delegate Alex Askew
Marc H. Morial, President & CEO NUL (Personal Endorsement)
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2022
Carlos Clanton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Norfolk City Council Superward 7 |
Personal |
Footnotes
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Danica Royster |
Norfolk City Council Superward 7 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Norfolk Public Schools, Ward 3 2018-2024 |
Succeeded by Jason Inge |
| |||||||||
