Welcome to The Rambler’s compendium of the 2024 races for Roanoke mayor and City Council. We’ll continue to update this page with stories through the election, and hope you’ll find all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Early voting begins this Friday, Sept. 20. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Roanoke residents will see three names for mayor on their ballot: Joe Cobb, running as a Democrat, Stephanie Moon Reynolds, running as an independent, and David Bowers, running as a Republican.

For Roanoke City Council, voters have up to three choices for three open seats: Jim Garrett and Nick Hagen are running as Republicans, Evelyn Powers and Cathy Reynolds are running as independents, and Terry McGuire, Phazhon Nash and Benjamin Woods are running as Democrats.

Since our founding in 2021, The Rambler has been providing the most comprehensive news coverage of municipal elections. In the coming weeks, we’ll be posting in-depth interviews with each of the candidates.

For those interested in hearing more from the candidates in person, here’s a calendar of upcoming events:

• Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. — Greater Deyerle Neighborhood Association mayoral candidates forum at Covenant Presbyterian Church (1831 Deyerle Rd. SW, Roanoke)
• Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. — Cardinal News City Council (6 p.m.) and mayoral (7:30) p.m. candidates forum in Fitzpatrick Hall at Jefferson Center (541 Luck Ave SW, Roanoke) RSVP required.
• Saturday, October 26 from Noon to 3 p.m. — Roanoke Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Roanoke Branch NAACP City Council and Mayoral Forum at the Claude Moore Education Complex (109 N. Henry St., Roanoke)
• Sunday, October 27, at 5 p.m. — Jack and Jill of America Youth Mayoral 'Great Debate' and City Council Forum at the Dumas Center (108 Henry St. NW, Roanoke)

Don’t see your organization’s forum listed? Let us know: editor@roanokerambler.com.

Happy reading!

Roanoke Mayor's Race Heats Up As Candidates Trade Barbs on Single-Family Zoning, Racism (Oct. 2)

Roanoke’s mayoral campaign has grown spirited as three candidate forums in the last week were marked by feisty exchanges over policy and groan-inducing remarks on racism.

Roanoke Council Democrats Show Support for Independent Candidate Over Party Nominee (Sept. 25)

Some Democrats on Roanoke City Council are expressing support for an independent Council candidate over a Democratic nominee, setting up a potential intraparty showdown. 

Roanoke municipal candidates report war chests (Sept. 18)

Early voting begins Friday, and candidates for Roanoke mayor and City Council have reported their summer cash hauls.

Candidate for mayor launches write-in bid (Aug. 14)

A faith leader who runs a national prayer group announced she is running for Roanoke mayor as a write-in candidate.

Roanoke's Revised Zoning Reforms Still Face Pushback — from Plaintiffs and City Council Candidates (July 31)

Debate over the zoning reforms has become a hot-button campaign issue in Roanoke’s municipal elections.

Disparate Roanoke City Council Candidates Find Unity in Bashing Evans Spring Plan (July 24)

All seven candidates for City Council, from Democrats to Republicans to independents, say they don’t agree with the city’s current Evans Spring master plan.

Roanoke Treasurer Runs For City Council As Independent, Jackson Drops Out Officially (June 19)

Evelyn Powers is running for City Council as an independent, while Jamaal Jackson dropped out Tuesday, hours before polls closed in a Democratic primary. Cathy Reynolds, a criminal defense attorney, also qualified to run as an independent ahead of Tuesday’s filing deadline.

Embattled Roanoke Council Candidate Could Still Be Elected As Democratic Nominee (June 12)

Despite last week announcing his withdrawal from the race, Jamaal Jackson has not given formal notice to elections officials about the June 18 contest.

Roanoke Council Candidate Drops Out Weeks Before Primary Amid Review of 'Questionable' Voter Signatures (June 5)

A week after city officials received a complaint alleging an illegal campaign act, Jamaal Jackson said he is dropping out.

Who Are the Democratic Candidates for Roanoke City Council? We Asked Them 4 Questions. (June 5)

Following Jamaal Jackson’s sudden departure from the City Council race, we introduce you to Democratic candidates Terry McGuire, Phazhon Nash and Benjamin Woods.

Future Roanoke City Manager Becomes Flash Point in Campaign for City Council (May 29)

Roanoke’s future leadership has become a campaign flash point as City Manager Bob Cowell and Councilman Luke Priddy leave office next month.

Cobb leads mayoral candidates in cash haul (April 17)

This week marked the first deadline for Roanoke mayoral and City Council candidates to file reports showing how much campaign cash they hauled in for the first three months of the year.

Party candidates finalized for Roanoke City Council (April 10)

Roanoke Democratic and Republican candidates for City Council are official.

Republicans Enter Roanoke City Council Races As Priddy Stuns Party Leaders By Bowing Out (April 3)

Luke Priddy won't seek reelection, while Nick Hagen and Jim Garrett are vying to become the first Republicans on Council in decades.

Roanoke Mayor’s Race Gets Crowded As Moon Reynolds, Bowers Challenge Cobb (March 13)

Roanoke’s mayoral race is now a three-way contest to succeed Sherman Lea. Councilwoman Stephanie Moon Reynolds and former mayor David Bowers have launched campaigns in a challenge to Vice Mayor Joe Cobb.

More Candidates May Mean Council Primary for Democrats (March 13)

Two more Roanoke City Council candidates have filed to run as Democrats, setting up a possible party primary for three open seats. Jamaal “JL” Jackson and Benjamin Woods have both submitted campaign paperwork, according to the voter registrar's office.

McGuire running for Roanoke City Council (Jan. 17)

Environmental advocate Terry McGuire filed paperwork Tuesday to run for Roanoke City Council this year.

Roanoke Vice Mayor Cobb Files To Run For Mayor As Lea, White-Boyd Bow Out of Council Races (Jan. 3)

Joe Cobb is laying the groundwork for a campaign as Mayor Sherman Lea and Councilwoman Trish White-Boyd announce they won’t seek reelection.

Nash says he'll enter '24 race for Roanoke City Council (Dec. 12, 2023)

Phazhon Nash, 24, is the first person to signal his intent to enter the race, whose outcome will determine a majority of seats on Council.