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The Decent Ballot  /  Durham County  /  Raleigh  /  Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Raleigh, NC

Who on your ballot seems like good people, in a sentence or two each, with sources. Fill out your ballot in ten minutes.

best choice in the race Seems like good people Compromised Not good people Not enough info

Who is running in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2026

Raleigh Mayor
Janet Cowell and Ashleigh Heath Armstrong
Raleigh City Council, At-Large
Sana Siddiqui, Joshua Bradley, Stormie Denise Forte and Clark Rinehart
Raleigh City Council, District E
Christina Jones and Marc Scruggs

Raleigh elections

A slice of Raleigh lies in Durham County, and voters there pick Raleigh's mayor, two at-large council members and the District E council member. Raleigh's city races are nonpartisan and now held in even years. Raleigh voters also decide two $101.5 million bonds (see Propositions).

Mayor

Vote for one

Armstrong has no campaign site or public platform, so there is little to compare.

Janet Cowell

Compromised (best choice in this race) Democrat

Mayor since 2024; state treasurer 2009 to 2017; state senator and Raleigh council member before that

Voted to put the housing and transportation bonds on this ballot. Endorsed by the NC AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club, and also by the Raleigh Realtors and the Triangle Apartment Association PAC.

Sources: PlayPOTUS, NC AFL-CIO, Campaign Facebook

Ashleigh Heath Armstrong

Not enough info

Unaffiliated; longtime Wake County resident

Has no campaign website or public social media, and missed a September candidate forum for health reasons.

Sources: INDY Week, Enlace Latino NC

City Council, At-Large

Vote for two

Vote for two. Forte and Siddiqui led the primary. Forte and Rinehart have the home builders' backing; Siddiqui and Bradley are backed by residents' and labor groups.

Sana Siddiqui

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Progressive

Small business owner; has served on the city's Environmental Advisory Board, Human Relations Commission and Hispanic and Immigrant Affairs Board

Wants a more affordable Raleigh, more community say in city decisions and better pay for first responders and city staff. Endorsed by The News & Observer, the Raleigh firefighters' union, the Progressive Democrats of Wake County and Livable Raleigh.

Sources: INDY Week, Enlace Latino NC, Livable Raleigh, Campaign site

Joshua Bradley

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Socialist

Hospitality accounting manager; ran for council in 2019, 2022 and 2024

Co-chairs a local of the Socialist Party USA and wants a community-led public safety model in place of the police department and city-built social housing. Endorsed by the NC AFL-CIO, the Triangle Labor Council and Livable Raleigh.

Sources: Green Party US, INDY Week, Livable Raleigh, NC AFL-CIO

Stormie Denise Forte

Compromised Democrat

Council member since 2020, at-large since 2022, former mayor pro tem; attorney and licensed real estate agent

Lists homelessness, aging infrastructure and police and fire staffing as priorities. Endorsed by the NC AFL-CIO, and also by the Home Builders Association and the Triangle Apartment Association PAC.

Sources: Wikipedia, INDY Week, NC AFL-CIO, HBA of Raleigh-Wake

Clark Rinehart

Compromised Democrat

Business consultant; former North Raleigh pastor; served on the city's working group for the old DMV site

Has not held office. Endorsed by the Home Builders Association and the state Democratic Party's Progressive Caucus.

Sources: INDY Week, HBA of Raleigh-Wake, NC Democratic Party Progressive Caucus

City Council, District E

Vote for one

Christina Jones

Seems like good people (best choice in this race) Democrat

Council member since 2022; former chair of the Raleigh Citizens Advisory Council and Parks Board member

In 2024 she won a vote to restore the city's Citizen Advisory Councils. Endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party, the NC AFL-CIO, the Raleigh firefighters and Livable Raleigh.

Sources: Enlace Latino NC, Livable Raleigh, NC AFL-CIO

Marc Scruggs

Not good people Conservative

Funeral director; council member for this district 1995 to 1999; former Broughton teacher and soccer coach

In August his Facebook account sent taunting messages, including "am at your door," to a state Democratic Party official. Endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party in this nonpartisan race.

Sources: Hoodline, Wake GOP

Also on your ballot

Every Durham County voter also picks in these races. Full write-ups on the Durham County page.

When and where to vote

Register by
Friday, October 9, at 5 p.m. Missed it? You can register and vote the same day at any early voting site; bring photo ID plus a document showing your name and address, such as a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck. Check your registration with the state voter lookup.
Early voting
Thursday, October 15 to Saturday, October 31, at 10 sites; any Durham County voter can use any site. Weekdays 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays (October 17, 24 and 31) 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sundays (October 18 and 25) 2 to 6 p.m. Sites include the Main Library downtown, North, South and East Regional Libraries, NCCU's Turner Law Building, Duke's Karsh Alumni Center, Southern High School, the Little River Community Complex in Bahama and the Board of Elections office. Full list and wait times.
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at your assigned polling place. Find yours.
Mail ballot
Any registered voter can vote by mail, no reason needed. Your request must reach the Board of Elections by 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 20, through the state's online portal, in person, or by mail to PO Box 868, Durham, NC 27702. Put a photocopy of your photo ID in with the ballot and complete the witness section. It must arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day; a postmark doesn't count. You can also hand it in at any early voting site or at the board office (3825 S. Roxboro Street, Suite 101), but not at a polling place on Election Day. Details.
Drop boxes
None. North Carolina law doesn't allow them.
Bring
A valid photo ID, such as a North Carolina driver's license or state ID; the state list has every accepted ID. If you don't have one you can still vote by filling out an ID exception form, or vote and bring your ID to the board by noon on the third business day after the election. Questions: 919-560-0700.
Your ballot
See yours through the state voter lookup, or browse the county's composite sample ballot packet. Races here come from the state's official general election candidate list (PDF).

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Last updated October 4, 2026.