It’s time for a run-off!

What is a run-off?

In North Carolina, if no one wins more than half the votes in a city election, the top two candidates can have a second election called a run-off. But this only happens if the person who came in second asks for it — it doesn’t happen automatically.

Holly Raby has asked for a run-off.

New Bern has had run-off elections in the past. As recently as 2022, New Bern police chief Toussaint Summers had 2,635 votes while Odham received 2,631. Neither candidate received 50% of the total vote count, allowing Odham to request a runoff. Even though Summers won by votes initially, Odham won after the run-off election. 

Odham received 49.3% of the votes, falling just short of the 50% plus one vote required to avoid a runoff. As the second-highest vote-getter, Raby received 41.6% of the votes. He officially requested a run-off.