2023 Durham mayoral election

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2023 Durham mayoral election

| flag_image = Flag of Durham, North Carolina.svg

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2021 Durham mayoral election

| previous_year = 2021

| election_date = November 7, 2023

| next_election = 2025 Durham mayoral election

| next_year = 2025

| turnout =

| image_size = x150px

| image1 = Leonardo Williams (closer crop).png

| candidate1 = Leonardo Williams

| color1 = c0c0c0

| popular_vote1 = 24,124

| percentage1 = 63.5%

| image2 = Mike Woodard 2023 portrait (cropped).jpg

| candidate2 = Mike Woodard

| color2 = c0c0c0

| popular_vote2 = 13,755

| percentage2 = 36.2%

| map_image = {{switcher

|x300px

|County results

|x300px

|Precinct results{{efn|Absentee and One-Stop ballots have yet to be allocated to precincts, making these results unofficial.}}

|x300px

|City council ward results

|default=2}}

| map_size = x300px

| map_caption = Williams: {{legend0|#51C2C2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#2AACAC|60–70%}} {{legend0|#009696|70–80%}} {{legend0|#008080|80–90%}} {{legend0|#006666|≥90%}}
Woodard: {{legend0|#87be51|50–60%}} {{legend0|#478e00|70–80%}}
Tie: {{legend0|#6CC08A|50%}}
{{legend0|#808080|No data}}

| title = Mayor

| before_election = Elaine O'Neal

| after_election = Leonardo Williams

}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Mary Helen |title=Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal says she won’t run for re-election. Here’s why |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/durham-county/article276653196.html |access-date=November 10, 2023 |website=News Observer}}

The nonpartisan blanket primary was held on October 10.{{cite web |title=2023 Elections |work=Durham County Board of Elections |url=https://www.dcovotes.com/voters/current-elections |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214500/https://www.dcovotes.com/voters/current-elections |url-status=live }} City councilor Leonardo Williams and state senator Mike Woodard advanced to the general election. Williams defeated Woodard by a wide margin.[https://www.wral.com/story/there-s-going-to-be-a-new-culture-leo-williams-elected-as-new-mayor-of-durham/21138199/ WRAL.com: 'There's going to be a new culture': Leo Williams elected as new mayor of Durham]

Candidates

= Advanced to general =

Leonardo Williams, city councilor{{cite news |title=Durham City Council Member Leonardo Williams files to run for Bull City Mayor |work=WTVD |date=July 20, 2023 |url=https://abc11.com/mark-anthony-middleton-durham-mayor-nc-politics-race/13525882/ |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214501/https://abc11.com/mark-anthony-middleton-durham-mayor-nc-politics-race/13525882/ |url-status=live }}
Mike Woodard, North Carolina state senator from the 22nd district{{cite news |title=NC Sen. Mike Woodard is running for mayor of Durham |first1=Dawn Baumgartner |last1=Vaughan |first2=Mary Helen |last2=Moore |date=July 14, 2023 |work=The News & Observer |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article277216263.html |url-access=limited |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025023358/https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article277216263.html |url-status=live }}

= Eliminated in primary =

Charlitta Burruss, community advocate and candidate for mayor in 2021{{cite news |title=An early look at the eight candidates running for Durham mayor |first=Zoe |last=Spicer |work=Duke Chronicle |date=July 23, 2023 |url=https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2023/07/duke-university-durham-mayor-elections-2023-elaine-o-neal-mike-woodard-leonardo-williams-dedreana-freeman-charlitta-burruss-jontae-dunston-nick-pettiford-marshall-williams-sylvester-williams |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806221514/https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2023/07/duke-university-durham-mayor-elections-2023-elaine-o-neal-mike-woodard-leonardo-williams-dedreana-freeman-charlitta-burruss-jontae-dunston-nick-pettiford-marshall-williams-sylvester-williams |url-status=live }}
Jontae Dunston{{cite web |title=Candidate Detail List {{!}} Election: 10/10/2023 |work=Durham County Board of Elections |date=July 21, 2023 |url=https://www.dconc.gov/home/showdocument?id=39144&t=638243402399715541 |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214459/https://www.dconc.gov/home/showdocument?id=39144&t=638243402399715541 |url-status=live }}
DeDreana Freeman, city councilor{{cite news |title=Durham City Council member DeDreana Freeman to run for mayor |work=WTVD |date=July 18, 2023 |url=https://abc11.com/nc-politics-durham-mayor-race-dedreana-freeman-city-council/13519516/ |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214500/https://abc11.com/nc-politics-durham-mayor-race-dedreana-freeman-city-council/13519516/ |url-status=live }}
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{{cite news |title=Durham Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton will not seek to be the Bull City's next mayor |work=WTVD |date=July 19, 2023 |url=https://abc11.com/mark-anthony-middleton-durham-mayor-nc-politics-race/13522356/ |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214459/https://abc11.com/mark-anthony-middleton-durham-mayor-nc-politics-race/13522356/ |url-status=live }}
Elaine O'Neal, incumbent mayor{{cite news |title=Durham mayor will not seek re-election |first=Joe |last=Jurney |work=WNCN |date=June 22, 2023 |url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/durham-mayor-will-not-seek-re-election/ |access-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-date=August 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806214500/https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/durham-mayor-will-not-seek-re-election/ |url-status=live }}
Kenneth Spaulding, former North Carolina state representative from the 16th district

Primary election

= Results =

{{Election box begin no party no change |title=2023 Durham mayoral primary{{cite web |title=Durham County 10/10/2023 Unofficial Primary Election Results |publisher=North Carolina State Board of Elections |date=October 16, 2023 |access-date=October 16, 2023 |url=https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=10/10/2023&county_id=32&office=ALL&contest=0 |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017091341/https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=10/10/2023&county_id=32&office=ALL&contest=0 |url-status=live }}}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Leonardo Williams

|votes = 12,206

|percentage = 51.22%

}}{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Mike Woodard

|votes = 6,902

|percentage = 28.96%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = DeDreana Freeman

|votes = 3,380

|percentage = 14.18%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Marshall Williams Jr.

|votes = 502

|percentage = 2.11%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Sylvester Williams

|votes = 348

|percentage = 1.46%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Charlitta Burruss

|votes = 225

|percentage = 0.94%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Nick Pettiford

|votes = 202

|percentage = 0.85%

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Jontae Dunston

|votes = 66

|percentage = 0.28%

}}{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 23,831

|percentage = 100.00%

}}{{Election box end}}

General election

=Endorsements=

{{Endorsements box

| title = Mike Woodard

| width = 50em

| list =

Labor Unions

International Association of Fire Fighters{{Cite web |url=https://mikewoodard.com/ |title=Endorsed by the Following Organizations|access-date=November 5, 2023 |language=en-US}}
North Carolina AFL-CIO{{Cite web |url=https://mikewoodard.com/ |title=Endorsed by the Following Organizations|access-date=November 5, 2023 |language=en-US}}

Organizations

Sierra Club{{Cite web |url=https://mikewoodard.com/ |title=Endorsed by the Following Organizations|access-date=November 5, 2023 |language=en-US}}

}}

= Results =

{{Election box begin no party no change |title=2023 Durham mayoral general election (unofficial results)[https://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=11/07/2023&county_id=32&office=ALL&contest=0 State Board of Elections: General Election Results]}}

{{Election box winning candidate no party no change

|candidate = Leonardo Williams

|votes = 24,124

|percentage = 63.47

}}{{Election box candidate no party no change

|candidate = Mike Woodard

|votes = 13,755

|percentage = 36.19

}}{{Election box total no party no change

|votes = 37,879

|percentage = 100.00

}}{{Election box end}}