2025 Local Election Guide: Who Passes the Housing Test?

We graded Triangle candidates on housing, growth, and the future of our towns and cities

It’s municipal election season in the Triangle, which means voters (like you!) across dozens of towns and cities are about to choose the local leaders who shape how and where we live. From Durham and Chapel Hill to Apex, Garner, Pittsboro, and more — every community’s decisions add up to the region we become.

Municipal leaders shape housing every time they vote on rezonings, update development rules, or decide where new homes can be built. While Congress gets more attention, it’s your city councils, town boards, and county commissions that determine whether we build inward with walkable neighborhoods or outward with sprawl.

That’s why CITYBUILDER created the Triangle Housing Candidate Report Cards.

Working with RDU New Liberals, Yes! in My Triangle YIMBYaction chapter, and Strong Towns Raleigh Local Conversation, we collaboratively graded candidates on their approach to housing, growth, and community resilience.

The Triangle is a growing region, and that growth brings pressure to both b…