2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Leigh Altman
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
Yes
Age:
53
Previous experience in elected office:
County Commission At-Large member (2020-present)
Occupation:
Lawyer; Vice Chair of County Commission
Description:
Altman prioritizes expanding mass transit to better connect residents to jobs, schools and healthcare; increasing funding for parks and greenways as essential community infrastructure; supporting strong public schools as a cornerstone of economic stability; and advocating for inclusive economic development that benefits families across Mecklenburg County. She also highlights transparency in government as critical to public trust. Altman is endorsed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg and The Charlotte Observer.
Other personal:
ltman was previously an Assistant Attorney General in Georgia and staff attorney at the Council for Children’s Rights. Altman has three sons and earned a bachelor's in Social Sciences from New College of Florida and a JD from Florida State College of Law.
The Election Hub Questionnaire
Please provide demographic information about yourself to help voters (age, education, current occupation, where you live).
Age: 53
Education: Florida State College of Law | Tallahassee, FL J.D. with Honors, May 1997
New College | Sarasota, FL B.A. in Social Sciences, May 1994
Work History:
Public interest lawyer for 17 years
At Large Commissioner for last 5 years
Location: Dilworth
Why are you running for this role and why should voters pick you? Please share your previous experience in elected office that would be relevant to voters.
The County manages a $2.5 billion budget covering public health, mental health, education, social services, Park & Recreation, environmental protection, and more. Every day, I work to ensure taxpayer dollars are invested wisely—strengthening families and creating economic opportunities for everyone to thrive.
Since my election in 2020, I’ve fought to transform our transit system, first demanding accountability, then championing the historic transit initiative voters just approved.
On the County’s Economic Development Committee, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved: since November 2024 alone, we’ve recruited approximately 4,100 new jobs with an average salary of $111,000 and attracted $438 million in new investment to our community.
Tell us 1-2 professional accomplishments you have achieved in your work experience (not limited to public service) that give voters a sense of your leadership style or skills.
As Chair of the Metropolitan Transit Commission, I worked tirelessly to pass our transit referendum—a bold investment that positions our community for success for generations to come. This $24 billion transit plan represents the largest jobs initiative in our county’s history. It will provide reliable public transportation for people without cars to reach jobs, housing, education, grocery stores, and healthcare, while improving road infrastructure and reducing congestion for everyone.
I’m equally proud of our other transformative investments: $45 million in affordable housing this year, $76 million in Park & Recreation expansion this year, and three consecutive years of fully funding CMS’s county budget requests.
What endorsements from any notable North Carolina organizations or people have you received?
The major groups have yet to make endorsements for the March 3 Primary. [Altman reported to The Election Hub after completing this questionnaire that she received an endorsement from The Black Political Caucus in late January.]
However this is my list of endorsers as of 1/12/26:
https://www.leighaltman.com/2026-endorsements.html
How long have you lived in the region/district where you are running for office?
2009
Tell us something unexpected about yourself that voters may be interested to know.
The most rewarding part of public service is helping someone resolve a problem—listening to their needs and making the system work for them. Government belongs to the people and is funded by their hard-earned tax dollars. It should deliver responsiveness, respect, efficiency, and genuine care. When I provide one-on-one constituent service that truly addresses a resident’s concerns, I see it as more than problem-solving—it’s an opportunity to rebuild trust and restore what feels broken in our civic life. It’s my honor to serve the public this way every day.