Final Candidate Slate Set for Asheville and Buncombe County 2026 Elections

Filing for North Carolina’s 2026 primary formally closed on Dec. 19, producing a definitive list of contenders for Asheville and Buncombe County offices. With only two candidates filing for mayor, incumbent Esther Manheimer and City Councilwoman Kim Roney will not face a March primary and will instead advance directly to the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

The mayoral rematch between Manheimer and Roney places the decision over Asheville’s executive leadership squarely in the hands of voters this fall. For residents, the lack of a mayoral primary compresses the campaign calendar into a longer general election contest, affecting how candidates allocate outreach and fundraising in the coming months.

City Council races produced a notably robust field. Twenty candidates filed for three open council seats, a competitive landscape that will be winnowed in the March 3 primary. Among those seeking re-election are Vice Mayor Antonette Mosley, Maggie Ullman and Sheneika Smith. A large slate of contenders increases the likelihood of voter engagement on neighborhood issues, zoning, affordable housing and local transit priorities that the council directly influences.

Buncombe County’s Board of Commissioners and other countywide offices also saw filings across districts. The final candidate lists include district breakdowns that will determine which seats face contested primaries on March 3 and which will be decided in the November general election. These county races carry direct implications for budgeting, public health services and county infrastructure that affect daily life across Buncombe.

Absentee voting for the 2026 cycle opens Jan. 12, 2026, giving voters who cannot make primary-day voting the opportunity to participate early. The primary election is set for March 3, 2026, and the general election will occur on Nov. 3, 2026. Voters should review deadlines for absentee requests and any identification requirements, and confirm their registration status ahead of those dates.

For full names of all filed candidates and the district-by-district breakdown, consult the Buncombe County Board of Elections and the Asheville election pages. The final candidate slate sets the stage for a year of local campaigning and debate that will shape municipal priorities and county governance for the next term.