🌳 Special Edition: Durham's 2025 Voter Guide

This week, Hey Durham is pausing our regular format to bring you a special election issue focused entirely on the 2025 municipal races.

We’ve compiled endorsements from several active and historically influential political organizations that publicly release formal endorsements. From long-standing civic institutions to newer advocacy groups and local media, this guide breaks down who they’re supporting, what their platforms emphasize, and how their values align with different candidates.

Whether you're voting early or still learning about the field, this guide offers a clear overview of who’s endorsing whom, and what it could mean for Durham.

— Jordan Parker

Key Voting Dates

Municipal Primary Election

• Early Voting: Thursday, September 18 – Saturday, October 4

• Primary Election Day: Tuesday, October 7

Municipal General Election

• Early Voting: Thursday, October 16 – Saturday, November 1

• Election Day: Tuesday, November 4

Check registration, polling places, and mail-in ballot information at: ncsbe.gov

What Does Durham City Council Do?

The Durham City Council includes the mayor and six council members. They set policy, approve the city’s budget, and vote on decisions related to development, housing, transit, and public safety. They also appoint the city manager, who oversees daily operations.

In short, they decide how Durham grows, spends, and governs. That includes:

• Approving new housing and zoning rules

• Funding public safety, including police and the HEART crisis response program

• Supporting small businesses, transit, and infrastructure

• Shaping how the city responds to homelessness, affordability, and growth.

Four seats are on the ballot this year:

• Mayor

• Ward 1 – East and Southeast Durham (Cleveland-Holloway, Old East Durham)

• Ward 2 – North and parts of West Durham (Walltown, Watts-Hillandale, Duke Park)

• Ward 3 – South and Southwest Durham (Southpoint, Hope Valley, Woodcroft)

Endorsements

Durham’s leading political groups, civic organizations, and local media have released their endorsements for the 2025 municipal races. Each group highlights different priorities, from progressive activism to business-focused pragmatism, and their choices provide insight into how various communities and coalitions see the city’s future. Below are summaries of each group and the candidates they are backing for mayor and city council.

Endorsements by Candidate

INDY Week

INDY Week is the Triangle’s long-running alternative weekly and a known progressive voice in local politics. Its platform emphasizes equity, climate action, housing, and collaborative governance. This year, the editorial board endorsed candidates with policy experience and institutional knowledge, but did not endorse in Ward 2, citing concerns about incumbent performance and public engagement.

• Mayor: Leonardo Williams

• Ward 1: Matt Kopac

• Ward 2: No endorsement

• Ward 3: Chelsea Cook

View Full Endorsement >>

Durham United

Durham United is a newer group focused on outcomes and policy accountability. Its platform includes fully staffing police, increasing housing development, and supporting downtown revitalization. Endorsements were based on concrete proposals and measurable goals.

• Mayor: Anjanée Bell

• Ward 1: Matt Kopac

• Ward 2: Mark-Anthony Middleton

• Ward 3: Diana Medoff

View Full Endorsement >>

Friends of Durham

Friends of Durham is a moderate, business-friendly PAC with more than three decades of involvement in local elections. Its platform centers on downtown investment, public safety, and limiting property tax hikes by expanding the tax base. This year, the group endorsed candidates it believes will align closely with the mayor’s agenda and keep city finances stable while encouraging growth.

• Mayor: Leonardo Williams

• Ward 1: Matt Kopac

• Ward 2: Mark-Anthony Middleton

• Ward 3: Diana Medoff

View Full Endorsement >>

People’s Alliance PAC

People’s Alliance PAC is a progressive grassroots group focused on racial equity, housing, and climate action. It often backs candidates with backgrounds in advocacy and organizing. This year’s endorsements highlight a desire for systemic change and progressive policy shifts.

• Mayor: Leonardo Williams

• Ward 1: Matt Kopac

• Ward 2: Shanetta Burris

• Ward 3: Chelsea Cook

View Full Endorsement >>

Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP)

Founded in the 1930s, DCABP is one of Durham’s oldest civic groups and has long worked to advance Black political leadership. Its platform emphasizes equity, housing, safety, and economic opportunity, with endorsements often going to candidates with deep community ties. This year it leaned toward incumbents and established leaders, reflecting a preference for continuity and stability in city governance.

• Mayor: Leonardo Williams

• Ward 1: DeDreana Freeman

• Ward 2: Mark-Anthony Middleton

• Ward 3: Diana Medoff

View Full Endorsement >>

Yes for Durham

Yes for Durham is a civic advocacy group that promotes growth-oriented leadership. Its platform calls for more housing, expanded job opportunities, fully staffed public safety departments, and better public spaces like parks. The group endorsed candidates it views as action-oriented and capable of cutting through gridlock to deliver visible results.

• Mayor: Leonardo Williams

• Ward 1: Matt Kopac

• Ward 2: Mark-Anthony Middleton

• Ward 3: Diana Medoff

View Full Endorsement >>

Make a Plan to Vote

1. Check your registration at ncsbe.gov.

2. Choose your method: vote early, by mail, or on Election Day.

3. Know your site: find your polling place or early voting location.

4. Bring what you need: a valid photo ID is required in North Carolina.

5. Vote early if you can to avoid lines and resolve any registration issues.