Cristóbal Palmer is set to join elected office, with vote projections indicating he will win a special election for the Carrboro Town Council.

Palmer earned 77.46% of the vote reported from Carrboro on Tuesday night with all of the town’s precincts reporting — and held a big enough lead over his opponent, Isaac Woolsey, to call the race early. This election was the first time either candidate had run for public office, with each trying to fill the seat left vacant by Mayor Barbara Foushee as she was elected from the council to the mayorship in 2023.

“I’m allowing myself a short amount of time to enjoy the win,” Palmer said. “But like all municipalities in North Carolina, we’ve got some big challenges around our transportation, history, and current state-level policies.”

Palmer celebrated the victory on the back patio of Orange County Social Club in Carrboro, where he gathered with about 15 friends, family members, and other people involved with his campaign.

At the event, Carrboro mayor pro tem Danny Nowell praised Palmer effusively.

“I was really, really excited about his candidacy. I was thrilled to vote for him. I think he’s going to be a tremendous addition to our council,” Nowell said. “I think he’s very in line with the values that we’ve seen Carrboro vote in over the past several cycles. So I’m really excited, I think he brings a strong vision that’s in line with our comprehensive plan.”

Palmer —a technical director for a digital library at UNC— will serve a partial term, as Foushee was elected to the seat during the 2021 local government cycle and as the town’s mayor in 2023. That means it will be on the ballot again in the 2025 fall cycle, with Palmer in the role for roughly a year.

Traditionally, the Carrboro Town Council has sworn in new members during a December council meeting. The elected body has an organization meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 3.

“I look forward to taking off the campaign hat and putting on the governance hat,” Palmer said. “I’m going to do my best to hit the ground running.”

More 2024 state and local election results can be found on Chapelboro’s results page.

This is a breaking news story and it will be updated with further information.

 

Featured photo via Palmer for Carrboro.

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