Is there a mayoral candidate who can win 5 districts out right?

Sep 2, 2024 | by

The Code of Ordinances for the City of Richmond spells out how we elect a mayor:

In the general election, the person receiving the most votes in each of at least five of the nine city council districts shall be elected mayor.

Should no one be elected, then the two persons receiving the highest total of votes city wide shall be considered nominated for a runoff election.

The runoff election shall be held on the sixth Tuesday after the November general election between the two nominees. The date of any such runoff election shall, as soon as possible, be posted at the courthouse and published at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the city.

In any such runoff election, write-in votes shall not be counted, and the person receiving the most votes in each of at least five of the nine city council districts shall be elected mayor.

In the event the two candidates in a runoff election shall each win an equal number of council districts, the candidate receiving the most votes city wide shall be elected mayor.

An elected term shall run four years. Anyone eligible to serve on city council may serve as mayor, except no one may be elected mayor for three consecutive full terms, and no one may simultaneously hold the office of mayor and any other elected position.

The key facts as we see it:

  • To win the mayoral contest, a candidate has to win 5 of the 9 districts – NOT get the most votes across the city
  • If nobody wins 5 districts, the 2 candidates receiving the most votes go to a run-off – regardless of if they won ANY districts.

So – is there a mayoral candidate in the race who can win 5 districts out right? If not, who is most likely to make it to a runoff?




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