Vi Alexander Lyles

Vi Alexander Lyles (Democratic Party) is the Mayor of Charlotte in North Carolina. She assumed office on December 4, 2017. Her current term ends on December 1, 2025.

Lyles grew up in Columbia, South Carolina.^[1] She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Queens University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.^[2] Lyles moved to Charlotte in the late 1970s and began working for the city, first as a budget analyst and then, from 1987 to 1996, as budget director.^[3]^[4] From 1996 to 2004, she served as Charlotte's assistant city manager.^[5] Lyles stepped down from her role with the city in 2004, and worked as a consultant for nonprofits and government agencies, including on initiatives related to housing and transportation.^[4]

Lyles ran as a Democrat for one of four at-large seats on the Charlotte City Council in 2013 and won with 15% of the vote on the same day her husband, John, died from pancreatic cancer.^[6] She was re-elected in 2015. Lyles' fellow council members selected her as mayor pro tem in 2015, a position she held until 2017. The mayor pro tem serves as acting mayor in the mayor's absence.^[7]

In early 2017, Lyles announced she was running for mayor, challenging incumbent Jennifer Roberts (D).^[8] Axios' Andrew Dunn wrote that some Charlotte Democrats were concerned that Roberts "spent her time fighting national battles over LGBT rights and immigration rather than recruiting business and jobs or investing in disadvantaged communities."^[9] Lyles said, "I am running for mayor to reopen doors that have been closed, and to strengthen relationships with our citizens, the business community, Raleigh, the county, and the school board."^[8] Lyles defeated Roberts and three other candidates in the Democratic primary, earning 46% of the vote. Lyles went on to defeat Republican Kenny Smith by a nearly 20-point margin, becoming the first Black woman to serve as mayor.^[10]^[11]

Lyles was re-elected mayor in 2019, 2022, and 2023, in each case winning by a margin of more than 37 percentage points. The 2022 election was originally scheduled for 2021, but was moved because the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the release of census data, affecting redistricting.^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]

Under Charlotte's council-manager government, the mayor casts tie-breaking votes and vetoes. The Charlotte Observer's Editorial Board wrote that the mayor is "the public face of city government, one who can help guide the city through difficult times and issues and rally the city council around a vision for the future."^[17] A city manager runs the day-to-day activities of the city.^[18]

As mayor of Charlotte, Lyles focused on increasing the city's affordable housing fund and expanding transportation infrastructure, including more bike lanes and bus routes.^[19]^[20] The Charlotte Observer Editorial Board wrote, "Lyles has been a cautious voice and policy advocate in a city straining to move further left. Most critically, in an era where leaders too often choose the short-term gain of jabbing at political opponents, she has smartly worked to repair relationships that were fractured under previous mayor Jennifer Roberts."^[21]

Biography

Lyles was born in 1952 in Columbia, South Carolina. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Queens University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before entering politics, Lyles was the assistant city manager. She was involved in creating Charlotte's first capital budget and restructuring government assessment programs. She also worked as a consulting director for the Lee Institute and Flynn Health Holt Leadership.^[22]^[23]^[24]

Lyles was the community outreach director for the 2012 Democratic National Convention.^[25] She served two terms on the Charlotte City Council from 2013 to 2017, where she was voted mayor pro tem for two years during her tenure.^[22]

In 2017, Lyles was first elected mayor of Charlotte, winning by 18 percentage points. Lyles was re-elected mayor in 2019, 2022, and 2023, in each case winning by a margin of more than 37 percentage points.

Tenure as mayor of Charlotte

Response to coronavirus pandemic

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (North Carolina) and Republican National Convention, 2020

In April 2020, Lyles and the city council formed the Community Recovery Task Force with the stated purpose of supporting families and businesses through the pandemic and helping plan for recovery. The group was focused on three areas: small business, housing, and the airport.^[26]

Lyles also expressed concern with Charlotte hosting the 2020 Republican National Convention in August 2020 during the pandemic. "We have a contract with the RNC to host this convention, but we also have a commitment to our community that we will keep them safe and well," she said in May. "We can't do it if it's not safe. And we've got to follow the directions of our scientists to do that."^[27]

The Republican National Committee announced on June 11 that the first day of the convention would take place in Charlotte before moving to Jacksonville, Florida, for the event's final three days.^[28]

Events and activity following the death of George Floyd

See also: Events following the death of George Floyd and responses in select cities from May 29-31, 2020

Lyles was mayor of Charlotte during the weekend of May 29-31, 2020, when events and activity took place in cities across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd. Events in Charlotte, North Carolina, began on Friday, May 29, 2020, at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Metro police station.^[29] On May 31, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced he was deploying the North Carolina National Guard to Charlotte. The city of Charlotte disputed the governor's announcement, tweeting, "The National Guard has been in [Charlotte] assisting with COVID-19 response. There are no plans at this time to deploy the National Guard in response to demonstrations."^[30] No curfews were issued.

To read more about the death of George Floyd and subsequent events, click [show] to the right.

On May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officers arrested Floyd, a Black man, after receiving a call that he had made a purchase with a counterfeit $20 bill.^[31] Floyd died after Derek Chauvin, a White officer, arrived at the scene and pressed his knee onto Floyd's neck as Floyd laid face-down on the street in handcuffs.^[32] Both the Hennepin County Medical Examiner and an independent autopsy conducted by Floyd's family ruled Floyd's death as a homicide stemming from the incident.^[33] The medical examiner's report, prepared by Dr. Michael Baden and Dr. Allecia Wilson, said that it was "not a legal determination of culpability or intent, and should not be used to usurp the judicial process."^[33] On April 20, 2021, Chauvin was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in relation to Floyd's death.^[34]

Floyd's death was filmed and shared widely, leading to activity regarding racism, civil rights, and police use of force. The first events took place in Minneapolis-St. Paul on May 26.^[35] An event in Chicago organized by Chance the Rapper and Rev. Michael Pfleger took place the same day, making it the first major city outside of Minneapolis to host an event in response to Floyd's death.^[36]

On June 3, Lyles hosted a public forum outside of the Government Center, where she and city council members were questioned about the use of tear gas against protesters. Lyles then joined protesters and kneeled for nine minutes in remembrance of Floyd.^[37]

Housing Trust Fund

In April 2018, Lyles said she planned to seek $50 million for the Housing Trust Fund, which subsidizes the construction of private housing for low-income renters in Charlotte. At the time, the trust was funded with $15 million in bonds every two years.^[38] Voters approved the measure in November 2018.^[39]

Tenure on the Charlotte City Council

Response to shooting of Keith Lamont Scott

In September 2016, Lyles proposed a seven-point plan to reduce racial and class divisions in Charlotte following the police-involved shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott.^[25]^[40]

LGBT non-discrimination ordinance

In February 2016, Lyles supported a non-discrimination ordinance that prohibited discrimination in public accommodations—including public restrooms, tax services, and hotels—against LGBT individuals. The measure passed 7-4.^[41] The ordinance was preempted by the passage of H.B. 2, and later H.B. 142.^[40]^[42]

Elections

2025

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Mayor of Charlotte

Incumbent Vi Alexander Lyles, Terrie Donovan, and Rob Yates are running in the general election for Mayor of Charlotte on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
		Vi Alexander Lyles (D)
	Submit photo	Terrie Donovan (R)
		Rob Yates (L)

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Mayor of Charlotte

Incumbent Vi Alexander Lyles defeated Brendan K. Maginnis, Jaraun Boyd, Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel, and Delter Guin in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Charlotte on September 9, 2025.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Vi Alexander Lyles	70.7	27,506
		Brendan K. Maginnis	12.2	4,740
	Submit photo	Jaraun Boyd	10.0	3,898
		Tigress Sydney Acute McDaniel	4.2	1,632
		Delter Guin	2.8	1,102

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 38,878
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Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Terrie Donovan advanced from the Republican primary for Mayor of Charlotte.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Matthew Grasela (R)

Libertarian primary election

The Libertarian primary election was canceled. Rob Yates advanced from the Libertarian primary for Mayor of Charlotte.

Endorsements

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