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Mayoral election in Greensboro, North Carolina (2025)

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2022
2025 Greensboro elections
Ballotpedia Election Coverage Badge.png
Election dates
Filing deadline: July 18, 2025
Primary election: October 7, 2025
General election: November 4, 2025
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2025

The city of Greensboro, North Carolina, held a general election for mayor on November 4, 2025. A primary was scheduled for October 7, 2025. The filing deadline for this election was July 18, 2025.

As of 2025, Greensboro does not have term limits for the position of mayor. Mayors serve a four-year term.


Elections

Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.

Candidates and results

General election

General election for Mayor of Greensboro

Marikay Abuzuaiter defeated Robbie Perkins in the general election for Mayor of Greensboro on November 4, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Marikay Abuzuaiter
Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
61.0
 
27,294
Robbie Perkins (Nonpartisan)
 
39.0
 
17,449

Total votes: 44,743
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Greensboro

Marikay Abuzuaiter and Robbie Perkins defeated Mark Cummings and Akir Khan in the primary for Mayor of Greensboro on October 7, 2025.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Marikay Abuzuaiter
Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
39.9
 
8,563
Robbie Perkins (Nonpartisan)
 
32.5
 
6,976
Image of Mark Cummings
Mark Cummings (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
17.8
 
3,825
Image of Akir Khan
Akir Khan (Nonpartisan)
 
9.7
 
2,091

Total votes: 21,455
Candidate Connection = 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.

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Additional elections on the ballot

See also: North Carolina elections, 2025

What's on your ballot?
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

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.

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Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Public Safety is a must! If we do not have a safe community, we are not going to receive the economic development that we desire. Companies are not going to come to unsafe communities. The companies we have attracted have already checked out our public safety initiatives, and I am proud to say that our police department is Gold CALEA rated, and our fire department is ISO 1 rated. Our GM 911 receives national and global awards consistently. These ratings may not seem important to some people, but they are huge. Companies look for places to move, begin or start their business. I am proud to say that I have led many initiatives to take care of our public safety personnel – our police, fire, and GM911.

Infrastructure is a key component of economic development. They actually go hand-in-hand. Without proper infrastructure - water, sewer, roads, sidewalks and many other necessities, it is doubtful that any company would look at our city as a place to move or begin a business. Not many people realize how important logistics are to a company with my work as chair of the MPO/transportation, our group was able to approve the grants and state and city monies that were used to finish our urban loop. The urban loop has opened up amazing pockets of future development and has shown companies how Greensboro is the right place for them to come logistically to move their product from one place to another with safety and efficiency.

Housing. With all of the companies coming, we are certainly in need of housing. We are not only in need of attainable and affordable housing, we are also in need of all levels of income housing. I know that we need infill development, but we also need single-family home housing along with multifamily. Greensboro has made great strides trying to make the process for developers and builders much easier. While there are many rules and regulations, we cannot change because they are state mandated, we have been trying to make our permit process much more efficient, so developers and builders can move quickly to build the housing that is needed.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I am passionate about making sure that the ordinances and policies that we put into place have safety as the top priority for our community. It is certainly true that we must think about all of the policies that affect our city - safety, environmental issues, and the well-being of our residents.

Ordinances and policies that ensure our citizens are safe as always been my number one priority.

Greensboro has also always been well ahead of other municipalities and making sure that we are environmentally respectful, and that we make policies that ensure our sustainability.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Oh, my, there are so many people I look up to - many of them have passed on. I would say that I have gained knowledge from each of them, so I really do not want to say who I look up to because it would take me hours to list them all.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I believe that an elected official must be one who has been with and involved in the community it represents. It is hard for me to believe that there are those who campaign who have never stepped foot in certain areas in the community. I believe it is incumbent upon any elected official to research and know what their community is all about Of course, elected officials should be of the highest character, integrity, and be able to be honest and fair with their constituents. We have all certainly read and studied ethics and how elected officials must follow certain guidelines.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Even though the mayor of Greensboro is a part-time position, I believe the core responsibilities the mayor must follow is to guide their city council into a cohesive team. There is so much that a city can do to move forward in its mission. One needs a mayor who is a true leader. A true leader does not try to take all of the credit for the success of a city. A true leader would be one who would value and respect their team and appreciate the fact that everything is a collaboration.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I would like to see a legacy of being the council person and the mayor who helped transition and mentor a new Council, who always stayed involved in her community and who helped make Greensboro the safest and most productive city in the Southeast!
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

The first historical event that I recall was the shooting of John F. Kennedy,Jr. our president. I was in first grade at the time, six years old and I was going to a Catholic school. I will never forget the hysterical crying of the nuns. He was the first Catholic president and they were all so very excited. I will never forget that and we were all sent home and we all had watched everything unfold on TV.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I worked in a hospital when I was 14 years old. I worked every summer through high school.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

All of them. I am not being sarcastic, it is just a love of mine, and I am a voracious reader.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Wonder Woman! She was brave, courageous, assertive, and solved every problem presented to her!
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I think we have all had struggles. I think one of the most frustrating struggles that I have is when someone totally dismisses my thought or comment and then refuses to discuss the issue. That is tough. It is rare that happens, but I can never figure out why someone won’t even discuss an issue because their way is the only way. I think we can all come to an agreement on just about everything.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Being a leader also means being involved in and present in the community. Not just in part of the community, but in all of the community. A true leader works with everyone and does not pretend to know what is best for the community, but asks the community what they would like to see.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

The mayor and the city manage should both have a true sense of vision of the city. For instance, Greensboro’s vision is to be a community with endless economic opportunities, and an exceptional quality of life. This is the vision that the entire city council and the city manager have agreed upon. While the city manager does not have a vote, his or her opinion should be considered. The city manager has the expertise and the credentials to run a city. The mayor has been elected by the community to represent their wishes. While a mayor may make tough decisions at times, it should always be a decision made after hearing from the experts, the city manager, the community and the city Council.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Greensboro is a unique city. This is one of the reasons I truly love living here. I have lived here my entire adult life and I would call Greensboro a very welcoming city to businesses, residents, potential residents, and visitors who attend all of our amazing venues, sports events, museums and theatres. Greensboro is very easy to travel through from one end to the other. With the urban loop, you can get to anywhere in Greensboro or to any of the highways within 10 minutes. I am proud of our city, and I believe that the mayor should be one of the biggest cheerleaders for their city.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Public safety and housing. The technology for public safety has skyrocketed over the last 20 years or so. Much of this is currently being used in order to reduce crime with the uptick in violence, Greensboro is implementing many new ways of reducing crime. We have one which is the real time information center that companies, and even small businesses can join into. The actual cameras that are inside the business go to a police monitoring station and the police can watch in real time the incident. Not only has it given businesses, peace of mind. It is reducing crimes, such as shoplifting, robberies, and even assaults. Many. cities are going through public safety issues, yet I believe that Greensboro is leading the way and how to fight crime. The need for housing - Greensboro tends to be unique because we are seeing a trajectory of success that we have not seen for years. This creates an immense need for housing. I support the City Manager’s “road to 10,000”. This is his goal and challenge to our community. Greensboro is leading by example by doing what we can to streamline our permitting process so that developers and builders can get to work much quicker.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

Collaboration. I believe that the city and the state should put aside partisan politics and do what is best for the city which only helps lift up the state, and do what is best for the state which only lifts up the city. One reason I was thankful that Greensboro was not a partisan city Council, was that everyone on city council should be more concerned about the residence than about party politics.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

The ideal relationship between the city and the federal government is one that is also in collaboration. Greensboro strives to do what is right for everyone, but especially in the federal government. It seems that partisan politics sometimes get in the way. I pride myself for being able to discuss the needs of Greensboro to our federal government representatives, even if they are of a different political party.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I have always had an excellent relationship with our public safety personnel – especially our law enforcement. As a previous small business owner for 22 years, I not only rely on public safety for my business, but also for my residence. I have built a solid reputation with our police, fire and GM 911 personnel. I will continue those relationships as mayor. And I believe that the mayor should always lift up those who protect them and their city on a daily basis.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

There was one where a young lady, perhaps in her 30s, came up to me and told me she had lifted herself out of poverty because of the programs that the city of Greensboro offered free, that workforce development offered free, and then she went onto the Nussbaum Center for entrepreneurship and started her own business with the services they provide there.
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MarikayAbu12.jpg

Marikay Abuzuaiter (Nonpartisan)

I am most proud of leading the initiative to give substantial raises to our police officers. All of them, not just our new hires. For several years, our department had been losing officers to other municipalities because the other were paying much more in the way of incentives and salary. We had extremely talented officers leaving for higher pay.

City council had talked about it for over a year. The day that our police chief came and spoke before Council saying that our city was in crisis because we had lost so many officers to other cities, I became angry. We had talked the subject to death and I was tired of hearing that we were over 130 officers short.

I made the motion that evening to raise our officers to a comparable level like our peer cities. My motion passed on a 7-2 vote.

I am most proud of this as we now have a full police officer department. I made the motion on April 4, 2023.


Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Marikay Abuzuaiter

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "I am Marikay Abuzuaiter, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Greensboro, NC. I was elected in 2011 to an at large position. Having served on the Greensboro city Council for 14 years, I have the knowledge, experience and commitment to keeping Greensboro on the trajectory of success that we are experiencing with the major economic development announcements that have been coming for the last couple of years. Our city needs someone who has been involved in the meetings, discussions, and regional initiatives that have helped lift up our community. I am that person! Having served on and been elected chair of many regional initiatives, I am confident that I can continue to collaborate with our local and regional partners. I am chair of the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation, Chair of the Municipal Planning Organization Transportation and I am Vice Chair of the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. My local and regional elected officials are the ones who keep electing me to chair and vice chair these organizations. I am honored and I want to continue that momentum of economic success."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Public Safety is a must! If we do not have a safe community, we are not going to receive the economic development that we desire. Companies are not going to come to unsafe communities. The companies we have attracted have already checked out our public safety initiatives, and I am proud to say that our police department is Gold CALEA rated, and our fire department is ISO 1 rated. Our GM 911 receives national and global awards consistently. These ratings may not seem important to some people, but they are huge. Companies look for places to move, begin or start their business. I am proud to say that I have led many initiatives to take care of our public safety personnel – our police, fire, and GM911.


Infrastructure is a key component of economic development. They actually go hand-in-hand. Without proper infrastructure - water, sewer, roads, sidewalks and many other necessities, it is doubtful that any company would look at our city as a place to move or begin a business. Not many people realize how important logistics are to a company with my work as chair of the MPO/transportation, our group was able to approve the grants and state and city monies that were used to finish our urban loop. The urban loop has opened up amazing pockets of future development and has shown companies how Greensboro is the right place for them to come logistically to move their product from one place to another with safety and efficiency.


Housing. With all of the companies coming, we are certainly in need of housing. We are not only in need of attainable and affordable housing, we are also in need of all levels of income housing. I know that we need infill development, but we also need single-family home housing along with multifamily. Greensboro has made great strides trying to make the process for developers and builders much easier. While there are many rules and regulations, we cannot change because they are state mandated, we have been trying to make our permit process much more efficient, so developers and builders can move quickly to build the housing that is needed.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of Greensboro in 2025.

Mayoral partisanship

Greensboro has a Democratic mayor. As of November 2025, 66 mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 23 are affiliated with the Republican Party, one is affiliated with the Libertarian Party, three are independents, five identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and two mayors' affiliations are unknown. Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

Mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan in most of the nation's largest cities. However, many officeholders are affiliated with political parties. Ballotpedia uses one or more of the following sources to identify each officeholder's partisan affiliation: (1) direct communication from the officeholder, (2) current or previous candidacy for partisan office, or (3) identification of partisan affiliation by multiple media outlets.

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About the city

See also: Greensboro, North Carolina

Greensboro is a city in Guilford County, North Carolina. As of 2020, its population was 299,035.

City government

See also: Council-manager government

The city of Greensboro uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[1]

Demographics

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic Data for Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro North Carolina
Population 299,035 10,439,388
Land area (sq mi) 130 48,623
Race and ethnicity**
White 45.5% 67.6%
Black/African American 42.4% 21.4%
Asian 5.4% 3%
Native American 0.6% 1.2%
Pacific Islander 0.1% 0.1%
Other (single race) N/A 3.2%
Multiple 3.4% 3.6%
Hispanic/Latino 8% 9.5%
Education
High school graduation rate 89.9% 88.5%
College graduation rate 39.4% 32%
Income
Median household income $49,492 $56,642
Persons below poverty level 18.4% 14%
Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2020). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2015-2020).
**Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


See also

Greensboro, North Carolina North Carolina Municipal government Other local coverage
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External links

Footnotes