Starting in 1803, intendants of police were elected annually by all freemen (including free African-Americans) owning land within the city limits.

[1] The current mayor is Democrat Janet Cowell, former state treasurer, who was first elected in 2024.

The longest-serving mayors in Raleigh's history are Avery C. Upchurch, who was in office for ten years between 1983 and 1993, and Charles Meeker, who served from 2001 through 2011.

In 2009, for the first time, the election was nonpartisan, in that the candidates did not have formal party affiliation denoted on the ballot.

Incumbent Charles Meeker won 62% in the first round, making a run-off election unnecessary.