Raleigh’s latest elections saw much higher turnout than Charlotte’s. That alone says a lot about the city, how politics still predominates despite the rise of a tech scene. But the main story wasn’t one of continuity. Last week’s returns hint that the city may be on the verge of transformation.

The increased turnout–though still low–owed to the first truly competitive mayoral race since the turn of the millennium. Whatever his endgame, Charles Francis generated interest in Southeast Raleigh, which showed up to support him. The lawyer’s success in mobilizing East Raleigh shows that that constituency does not want to be ignored.

City Council races likewise indicated a creaking shift in political dynamics. Straight-laced, pro-development moderates fell to their more progressive challengers. Bonner Gaylord’s defeat stuck out most prominently. But blue-jeans wearing 30-something Nicole Stewart also beat a well-funded opponent. Raleigh’s government has long been a little to the right of public opinion in the city, but that seems to be changing.

Candidate Zainab Baloch cast herself as the embodiment of change in the city. Demographically and otherwise, that claim had merit. Her confidence reflects an expanded sense of the possible. But the sickening, racist attack on her campaign drew from another development–Trump’s invitation to open bigotry. It’s up to all of us to stamp that out.

For better or worse, Raleigh has long been a fairly subdued city. This election, quiet though it was, whispers that a livelier era is on the way.

Alexander H. Jones

Alexander Jones is an original contributor to PoliticsNC.