Mayor Mitch Colvin and Council Member Kathy Keefe Jensen emerged Tuesday night as the top vote-getters in Fayetteville’s 2025 mayoral primary, advancing to the general election on Nov. 4.
The race drew 10 candidates, the city’s largest mayoral field in recent memory, amid a backdrop of political tension, personal accusations, and shifting alliances.
Contenders included longtime civic leaders, small business owners, and first-time candidates, all vying for a seat that shapes Fayetteville’s approach to public safety, housing, infrastructure, and economic development.
Colvin cemented his frontrunner status in Fayetteville’s crowded mayoral primary Tuesday, winning 47.61% (6,754) of the vote, according to unofficial results.
Council Member Kathy Keefe Jensen, who serves as the current mayor pro tem, secured the second position with 18.11% (2,569) of the vote.
Speaking to CityView on Tuesday night, Colvin thanked God and said the primary outcome sent a clear message about the kind of leadership residents want.
“I believe the people of Fayetteville spoke very clearly that stability and proven leadership are important in these times, and so I’m thankful for them,” Colvin said.
Jensen told CityView she was encouraged by the results and thankful for the support she’s received.
“I’m deeply grateful to the voters of Fayetteville for their confidence and support,” she said. “This campaign has always been about the future of our city — about building a safer, stronger, and more connected Fayetteville that works for every family.”
Council Members Mario Benavente and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, both unsuccessful in their mayoral campaigns, will depart their elected roles in December. Banks-McLaughlin did not respond to CityView’s requests Tuesday for comment.
Reached by phone late Tuesday, Benavente told CityView he was proud of the campaign he ran and the issues his team raised during the race.“I feel like there were a lot of folks who probably voted for the first time,” Benavente said.
He said he hopes his campaign inspires a new generation of civic leaders to stay engaged.
“We can see how far Fayetteville has come and how far Fayetteville has to go before we see a truly progressive city that prioritizes justice above all things,” he said. “That’s kind of how I feel about today.”
He added that he has no immediate plans to run for public office again.
Voting closed at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with 14,200 ballots cast. Turnout was 10.79% of the city’s 131,465 active and inactive registered voters, an increase from 9.96% of voters in 2017 when Colvin was first elected. The race marked a departure from previous cycles, when Colvin either ran unopposed — as he did in 2019 — or faced limited competition.
In 2022 and 2023, Colvin secured more than 60% of the vote in both primaries and general elections, defeating challenger Freddie de la Cruz twice.
A race fueled by accusations, reversals and political tension
Fayetteville’s 2025 mayoral primary unfolded against a backdrop of political mudslinging, fractured party alliances, and election-related complaints — a volatile mix that intensified scrutiny of the 10-candidate field.
Colvin, who previously announced in June that he would not seek re-election, reversed course and filed at the last minute. He cited concerns about instability in city leadership, pointing to recent turnover in the police department, sheriff’s office, and Fayetteville City Council.
“No one wants to work for 12 years to build a legacy,” Colvin previously told CityView. “I felt compelled … to try to bring a little bit more stability to the process.”
His return to the race intensified scrutiny. Candidate Benavente accused Colvin of accepting a campaign donation from the owner of a construction firm that had abandoned multiple city projects — suggesting the mayor was politically compromised. Colvin denied wrongdoing, calling the contribution legal and publicly disclosed.
Colvin, in turn, questioned whether Benavente still resides in the district he represents, raising concerns about eligibility and compliance with North Carolina law.
Meanwhile, a conservative political action committee’s endorsement of an independent candidate sparked backlash among local Republicans, some of whom said the move fractured party unity. That tension boiled over days later, when two Republican activists filed assault charges against each other following a heated Cumberland County GOP meeting.
And a confrontation at a voting site led to formal election complaints, adding to the race’s volatility.
The general election will be held Nov. 4, with early voting beginning Oct. 16.
Five city council districts had primaries on Tuesday. Along with the mayoral race, voters on Nov. 4 will decide contested city council races in eight of Fayetteville’s nine districts, with Lynne Green of District 5 running uncontested.
Primary results
With 59 out of 59 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed:
- Mitch Colvin – 6,754 votes or 47.61%
- Kathy Keefe Jensen – 2,569 votes or 18.11%
- Mario Benavente – 1,359 votes or 9.58%
- Tisha S. Waddell – 996 votes or 7.02%
- Freddie de la Cruz– 945 votes or 6.66%
- Courtney Banks-McLaughlin – 706 votes or 4.98%
- Paul A. Williams – 737 votes or 5.20%
- Clifton L. Johnson – 63 votes or 0.44%
- John Ashford – 36 votes or 0.25%
- Nahlee Iris Smith – 21 votes or 0.15%
Editor’s Note: This story was corrected to clarify which Fayetteville City Council districts will have contested races on Nov. 4. Voters will decide contested city council races in eight of Fayetteville’s nine districts on Election Day. CityView apologizes for this error.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com.
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