To improve upon the crime and urban decay plaguing Baltimore, Carcetti considers running for mayor against the African-American incumbent, Clarence Royce, despite the prospect of being a white candidate in a predominantly black city.

Using his connection to Valchek, Carcetti successfully manipulates Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell into working with him, promising resources and political capital in exchange for inside information about Royce's decision-making.

Carcetti becomes increasingly disillusioned with Royce and decides to run against him, recruiting college friend and Washington political consultant Theresa D'Agostino as his campaign manager.

After the BPD learns about "Hamsterdam" — Major Howard "Bunny" Colvin's drug-tolerant zones in West Baltimore — Royce refuses to allow the department to immediately shut them down.

When early polls show low numbers for Carcetti, he assumes that he has already lost on the basis of his race and begins to lose interest in the campaign.

He uses this inside information and his previous request for a witness protection scheme to ambush Royce to great effect.

Carcetti persuades Gray to publicly criticize Royce with the promise of a prominent council position in exchange for taking a large share of the African-American vote.

[1] His confidence restored, Carcetti hits the campaign trail with renewed vigor, receiving assistance from State Delegate Odell Watkins, who has turned against Royce.

Burrell quickly realizes what is happening and rallies support from City Council President Nerese Campbell, corrupt State Senator Clay Davis, and a group of influential black ministers.

A frustrated Carcetti restricts Burrell's authority and insists that he clear his orders through Deputy Commissioner William Rawls.

Major Cedric Daniels, a politically neutral African-American district commander, impresses Carcetti with his interest in securing quality felony arrests instead of statistically based reductions in crime.

Through Daniels, Carcetti learns of Burrell's arrest hike and consequently orders the BPD to reform its approach by prioritizing quality felony cases over statistical quotas.

He is forced to cut spending in other areas in order to plug the schools' budget deficit and is unable to keep his promises to reform the BPD.

Carcetti meets with Burrell and Rawls to discuss the BPD's problems, becoming concerned with crime statistics despite his prior decision to discourage stat-based policing.

Carcetti grants Campbell permission for the demolition of the McCullough homes, a housing project that is adjacent to Andy Krawczyk's latest building development.

[9] Many saw the connection between Carcetti and Martin O'Malley, an Irish-American Baltimore City Councillor who was elected mayor, defeating two African American opponents.