In most of the nation's largest cities, mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan. 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.
Between 2016 and 2023, an average of 64 of the 100 largest cities had a Democratic mayor at the beginning of the year, and an average of 28 cities had a Republican mayor. Click here to see the breakdown by year.
This page includes:
The following pages track municipal partisanship by year:
Who runs the cities?
- See also: Partisanship in United States municipal elections (2023)
Following mayoral elections held in 2023, 76% of the population of the top 100 cities lived in cities with Democratic mayors, and 16% lived in cities with Republican mayors, based on 2020 population estimates.
The twenty largest cities by population had the most Democratic mayors and the fewest Republican mayors:
As of April 2024, the mayors of 62 of the country's 100 largest cities are affiliated with the Democratic Party.
Note: Ballotpedia used 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.
List of mayors of the 100 largest cities
The following table contains a list of current mayors of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. by population.
Note: Ballotpedia used 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.
| 100 Largest Cities By Population
|
| Rank
|
City
|
Population (2020)
|
Mayor
|
Took office
|
Term ends
|
Government type
|
Mayoral election in 2024?
|
| 1
|
New York, New York
|
8,804,190
|
Eric Adams (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 2
|
Los Angeles, California
|
3,898,747
|
Karen Bass (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 3
|
Chicago, Illinois
|
2,746,388
|
Brandon Johnson (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 4
|
Houston, Texas
|
2,304,580
|
John Whitmire (D)
|
2024
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 5
|
Phoenix, Arizona
|
1,608,139
|
Kate Gallego (D)
|
2019
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 6
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
1,603,797
|
Cherelle Parker (D)
|
2024
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 7
|
San Antonio, Texas
|
1,434,625
|
Ron Nirenberg (I)
|
2017
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 8
|
San Diego, California
|
1,386,932
|
Todd Gloria (D)
|
2020
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 9
|
Dallas, Texas
|
1,304,379
|
Eric Johnson (R)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 10
|
San Jose, California
|
1,013,240
|
Matt Mahan (D)
|
2023
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 11
|
Austin, Texas
|
961,855
|
Kirk Watson (D)
|
2023
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 12
|
Jacksonville, Florida
|
949,611
|
Donna Deegan (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 13
|
Fort Worth, Texas
|
918,915
|
Mattie Parker (R)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 14
|
Columbus, Ohio
|
905,748
|
Andrew J. Ginther (D)
|
2015
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 15
|
Indianapolis, Indiana
|
897,041
|
Joseph Hogsett (D)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 16
|
Charlotte, North Carolina
|
874,579
|
Vi Lyles (D)
|
2017
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 17
|
San Francisco, California
|
873,965
|
London Breed (D)
|
2018
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 18
|
Seattle, Washington
|
737,015
|
Bruce Harrell (D)
|
2022
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 19
|
Denver, Colorado
|
715,522
|
Michael Johnston (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 20
|
Nashville, Tennessee
|
715,884
|
Freddie O'Connell (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 21
|
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
|
681,054
|
David Holt (R)
|
2018
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 22
|
El Paso, Texas
|
678,815
|
Oscar Leeser (D)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 23
|
Boston, Massachusetts
|
675,647
|
Michelle Wu (D)
|
2021
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 24
|
Portland, Oregon
|
652,503
|
Ted Wheeler (D)
|
2017
|
2025
|
City commission
|
Yes
|
| 25
|
Las Vegas, Nevada
|
641,903
|
Carolyn Goodman (Nonpartisan)
|
2011
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 26
|
Detroit, Michigan
|
639,111
|
Mike Duggan (D)
|
2014
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 27
|
Memphis, Tennessee
|
633,104
|
Paul Young (D)
|
2024
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 28
|
Louisville, Kentucky
|
633,045
|
Craig Greenberg (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 29
|
Baltimore, Maryland
|
585,708
|
Brandon M. Scott (D)
|
2020
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 30
|
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
|
577,222
|
Cavalier Johnson (D)
|
2021
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 31
|
Albuquerque, New Mexico
|
564,559
|
Tim Keller (D)
|
2017
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 32
|
Tucson, Arizona
|
542,629
|
Regina Romero (D)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 33
|
Fresno, California
|
542,107
|
Jerry Dyer (R)
|
2021
|
2028
|
Hybrid
|
Yes
|
| 34
|
Sacramento, California
|
524,943
|
Darrell Steinberg (D)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 35
|
Kansas City, Missouri
|
508,090
|
Quinton Lucas (D)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 36
|
Mesa, Arizona
|
504,258
|
John Giles (R)
|
2014
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 37
|
Atlanta, Georgia
|
498,715
|
Andre Dickens (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 38
|
Omaha, Nebraska
|
486,051
|
Jean Stothert (R)
|
2013
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 39
|
Colorado Springs, Colorado
|
478,961
|
Yemi Mobolade (I)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 40
|
Raleigh, North Carolina
|
467,665
|
Mary-Ann Baldwin (D)
|
2019
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 41
|
Long Beach, California
|
466,742
|
Rex Richardson (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 42
|
Virginia Beach, Virginia
|
459,470
|
Bob Dyer (R)
|
2018
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 43
|
Miami, Florida
|
442,241
|
Francis Suarez (R)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Hybrid
|
No
|
| 44
|
Oakland, California
|
440,646
|
Sheng Thao (D)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Hybrid
|
No
|
| 45
|
Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
429,954
|
Jacob Frey (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 46
|
Tulsa, Oklahoma
|
413,066
|
G. T. Bynum (R)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 47
|
Bakersfield, California
|
403,455
|
Karen Goh (R)
|
2017
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 48
|
Wichita, Kansas
|
397,532
|
Lily Wu (L)
|
2024
|
2028
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 49
|
Arlington, Texas
|
394,266
|
Jim Ross (Unknown)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 50
|
Aurora, Colorado
|
386,261
|
Mike Coffman (R)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 51
|
Tampa, Florida
|
384,959
|
Jane Castor (D)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 52
|
New Orleans, Louisiana
|
383,997
|
LaToya Cantrell (D)
|
2018
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 53
|
Cleveland, Ohio
|
372,624
|
Justin Bibb (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 54
|
Honolulu, Hawaii
|
350,964
|
Rick Blangiardi (I)
|
2021
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 55
|
Anaheim, California
|
346,824
|
Ashleigh Aitken (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 56
|
Lexington, Kentucky
|
322,570
|
Linda Gorton (R)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 57
|
Stockton, California
|
320,804
|
Kevin Lincoln II (R)
|
2021
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 58
|
Corpus Christi, Texas
|
317,863
|
Paulette Guajardo (Nonpartisan)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 59
|
Henderson, Nevada
|
317,610
|
Michelle Romero (R)
|
2023
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 60
|
Riverside, California
|
314,998
|
Patricia Lock Dawson (Nonpartisan)
|
2012
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 61
|
Newark, New Jersey
|
311,549
|
Ras J. Baraka (D)
|
2014
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 62
|
St. Paul, Minnesota
|
311,527
|
Melvin Carter III (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 63
|
Santa Ana, California
|
310,227
|
Valerie Amezcua (D)
|
2022
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 64
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
309,317
|
Aftab Pureval (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Hybrid
|
No
|
| 65
|
Irvine, California
|
307,670
|
Farrah Khan (D)
|
2020
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 66
|
Orlando, Florida
|
307,573
|
Buddy Dyer (D)
|
2003
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 67
|
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
|
302,971
|
Edward Gainey (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 68
|
St. Louis, Missouri
|
301,578
|
Tishaura Jones (D)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 69
|
Greensboro, North Carolina
|
299,035
|
Nancy B. Vaughan (D)
|
2013
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 70
|
Jersey City, New Jersey
|
292,449
|
Steven Fulop (D)
|
2013
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 71
|
Anchorage, Alaska
|
291,247
|
David Bronson (R)
|
2021
|
2024
|
Hybrid
|
Yes
|
| 72
|
Lincoln, Nebraska
|
291,082
|
Leirion Gaylor Baird (D)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 73
|
Plano, Texas
|
285,494
|
John Muns (R)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 74
|
Durham, North Carolina
|
283,506
|
Leonardo Williams (D)
|
2023
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 75
|
Buffalo, New York
|
278,349
|
Byron Brown (D)
|
2005
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 76
|
Chandler, Arizona
|
275,987
|
Kevin Hartke (R)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 77
|
Chula Vista, California
|
275,487
|
John McCann (R)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 78
|
Toledo, Ohio
|
270,871
|
Wade Kapszukiewicz (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 79
|
Madison, Wisconsin
|
269,840
|
Satya Rhodes-Conway (D)
|
2019
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 80
|
Gilbert, Arizona
|
267,918
|
Brigette Peterson (R)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Hybrid
|
Yes
|
| 81
|
Reno, Nevada
|
264,165
|
Hillary Schieve (Nonpartisan)
|
2014
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 82
|
Fort Wayne, Indiana
|
263,886
|
Vacant N/A
|
N/A
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 83
|
North Las Vegas, Nevada
|
262,527
|
Pamela Goynes-Brown (D)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 84
|
St. Petersburg, Florida
|
258,308
|
Kenneth Welch (D)
|
2022
|
2027
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 85
|
Lubbock, Texas
|
257,141
|
Tray Payne (R)
|
2022
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 86
|
Irving, Texas
|
256,684
|
Rick Stopfer (R)
|
2017
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 87
|
Laredo, Texas
|
255,205
|
Victor Treviño (Unknown)
|
2022
|
2026
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 88
|
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
|
249,545
|
Allen Joines (D)
|
2001
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 89
|
Chesapeake, Virginia
|
249,422
|
Richard West (R)
|
2008
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 90
|
Glendale, Arizona
|
248,325
|
Jerry Weiers (R)
|
2013
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 91
|
Garland, Texas
|
246,018
|
Scott LeMay (R)
|
2019
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 92
|
Scottsdale, Arizona
|
241,361
|
David Ortega (I)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 93
|
Norfolk, Virginia
|
238,005
|
Kenneth Alexander (D)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 94
|
Boise, Idaho
|
235,684
|
Lauren McLean (D)
|
2020
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 95
|
Fremont, California
|
230,504
|
Lily Mei (D)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
Yes
|
| 96
|
Spokane, Washington
|
228,989
|
Lisa Brown (D)
|
2024
|
2028
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
| 97
|
Santa Clarita, California
|
228,673
|
Cameron Smyth (R)
|
2023
|
2024
|
Council-manager
|
No
|
| 98
|
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
|
227,470
|
Sharon Weston Broome (D)
|
2017
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 99
|
Richmond, Virginia
|
226,610
|
Levar Stoney (D)
|
2016
|
2024
|
Strong mayor
|
Yes
|
| 100
|
Hialeah, Florida
|
223,109
|
Esteban Bovo Jr. (R)
|
2021
|
2025
|
Strong mayor
|
No
|
Mayoral partisanship: 2016-2023
The chart below shows the partisan breakdown of mayors of the top 100 cities at the start of each year since 2016.
Mayoral partisanship and preemption conflicts
- See also: Preemption conflicts between state and local governments
Preemption occurs when law at a higher level of government is used to overrule authority at a lower level. State law can be used to preempt local ordinances.[1]
The split between red states and blue cities is one source of preemption conflicts at the state and local level. For example, in 2017, Republican state governments preempted Democratic-led efforts to increase the minimum wage in St. Louis, Missouri, and decriminalize marijuana in Memphis and Nashville in Tennessee.
However, shared party affiliations don't guarantee that state and local governments will see eye-to-eye. For example, New York's Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, signed a 2017 bill blocking a plastic bag tax in Democratic-led New York City.
See the following pages for more information on state and local preemption conflicts by policy area:
See also
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