City of Asheville Mayor (Buncombe County)

2 candidates · General election, November 3, 2026 · Asheville voters

What this office does

The city's top elected official. Depending on the city charter, either runs city government ("strong mayor") or leads the city commission alongside a hired city manager.

Candidates

The official candidate list shows no party for this race, so we don't list one for any candidate, and we don't look up candidates' personal voter registration.

Esther Manheimer

$89K raised (state filings)
Moderately left · from the giving patterns of their campaign donors (DIME campaign-finance score, Stanford)

Kim Roney

$60K raised (state filings)

Filled dots are published academic scores; hollow dots are AI estimates from the candidate's own public record. How placements work.

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Quick answers

Who is running for City of Asheville Mayor (Buncombe County) in 2026?
Esther Manheimer and Kim Roney.
What does this office do?
The city's top elected official. Depending on the city charter, either runs city government ("strong mayor") or leads the city commission alongside a hired city manager.
Who should I vote for in the City of Asheville Mayor (Buncombe County) race?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare each candidate's record, funding, outside spending and endorsements on this page, then decide based on the issues that matter most to you. Enter your address at spectrumvote.com to see this race next to everything else on your ballot.
When is the election?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Buncombe County ballot.

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