Kim Roney Wins Asheville Mayoral Race
Roney defeated incumbent Esther Manheimer in the city's November mayoral election, according to unofficial results.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall
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Kim Roney won the Asheville mayoral race over Esther Manheimer, according to unofficial results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections. With over half of precincts reporting, Roney led by nearly 16 percentage points.
Why it matters
Roney's win reverses the outcome of the 2022 contest, in which Manheimer won by roughly 8%. Because Roney currently sits on Asheville City Council, her election also opens a seat on the council for Asheville residents to follow.
Unofficial results show Roney leading by nearly 16 percentage points with over half of precincts reporting, a sharp reversal from Manheimer's roughly 8% win in 2022. Final certified totals were not available at the time of reporting.
The players
Kim Roney
Kim Roney is a current member of the Asheville City Council who won the 2026 mayoral election.
Esther Manheimer
Esther Manheimer is the outgoing Asheville mayor who was defeated by Roney in the 2026 election after winning the 2022 contest.
North Carolina State Board of Elections
The North Carolina State Board of Elections is the state agency that publishes official election results for North Carolina contests.
The details
Under Asheville's city charter, the vacancy created by Roney's move to mayor will be filled by appointment by the remaining Council members. The last such appointment occurred in 2020 after Vijay Kapoor resigned, when more than 40 residents applied and Council chose Antanette Mosley, who was re-elected in 2022 and placed third in the six-person Council race as of press time.
Timeline
2020: Council appointed Antanette Mosley to fill a vacancy after Vijay Kapoor resigned.
2022: Manheimer defeated Roney by roughly 8% in the mayoral race.
September 2026: Roney and Manheimer clashed at a Council of Independent Business Owners forum.
Nov. 3, 2026: Mayoral election held, with Roney winning over Manheimer.
Tuesday, Dec. 8: Roney is scheduled to hold her first meeting as mayor.
Political Context
Roney's victory reverses the 2022 outcome between the same two candidates, when Manheimer won by roughly 8%. The shift follows a September 2026 forum clash between the two over the direction of the city's leadership.
Asheville residents will see a new mayor take office and a City Council seat opened by appointment rather than by election. Council decisions on the vacancy will shape who represents the city's residents until the next regular election cycle.
The takeaway
The change in Asheville's mayoral office signals voter willingness to reverse a result from just four years earlier. Residents tracking city leadership should watch the Council appointment process that follows Roney's move to mayor.
What happens next
Roney will hold her first meeting as Asheville's mayor on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and the City Council will then fill the vacancy she leaves through appointment.
Further reading
Explore more Asheville City Hall coverage to see how the new mayor's administration and council vacancy will take shape.
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