{
 "meta": {
  "generated_at": "2026-07-26T12:42:27+00:00",
  "n_cities": 50,
  "roster_as_of": "2026-07-14",
  "note": "Mayor roster verified July 14, 2026 against city and news sources. Scoring coverage is reported with the scores."
 },
 "cities": [
  {
   "slug": "new_york",
   "city": "New York",
   "state": "NY",
   "population": 8584629,
   "place_geoid": "3651000",
   "mayor": "Zohran Mamdani",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2026-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Kathy Hochul",
    "ovr_rank": 3,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 1
  },
  {
   "slug": "los_angeles",
   "city": "Los Angeles",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 3869089,
   "place_geoid": "0644000",
   "mayor": "Karen Bass",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2022-12-11",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 2
  },
  {
   "slug": "chicago",
   "city": "Chicago",
   "state": "IL",
   "population": 2731585,
   "place_geoid": "1714000",
   "mayor": "Brandon Johnson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-05-15",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "JB Pritzker",
    "ovr_rank": 14,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 3
  },
  {
   "slug": "houston",
   "city": "Houston",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 2397315,
   "place_geoid": "4835000",
   "mayor": "John Whitmire",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2024-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 4
  },
  {
   "slug": "phoenix",
   "city": "Phoenix",
   "state": "AZ",
   "population": 1665481,
   "place_geoid": "0455000",
   "mayor": "Kate Gallego",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2019-03-21",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Katie Hobbs",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 5
  },
  {
   "slug": "philadelphia",
   "city": "Philadelphia",
   "state": "PA",
   "population": 1574281,
   "place_geoid": "4260000",
   "mayor": "Cherelle Parker",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2024-01-02",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Josh Shapiro",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 6
  },
  {
   "slug": "san_antonio",
   "city": "San Antonio",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 1548422,
   "place_geoid": "4865000",
   "mayor": "Gina Ortiz Jones",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2025-06-18",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 7
  },
  {
   "slug": "san_diego",
   "city": "San Diego",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 1406106,
   "place_geoid": "0666000",
   "mayor": "Todd Gloria",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2020-12-10",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 8
  },
  {
   "slug": "dallas",
   "city": "Dallas",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 1329491,
   "place_geoid": "4819000",
   "mayor": "Eric Johnson",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2019-06-17",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 9
  },
  {
   "slug": "fort_worth",
   "city": "Fort Worth",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 1028117,
   "place_geoid": "4827000",
   "mayor": "Mattie Parker",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2021-06-15",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 10
  },
  {
   "slug": "jacksonville",
   "city": "Jacksonville",
   "state": "FL",
   "population": 1017689,
   "place_geoid": "1235000",
   "mayor": "Donna Deegan",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-07-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Ron DeSantis",
    "ovr_rank": 17,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 11
  },
  {
   "slug": "austin",
   "city": "Austin",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 1002632,
   "place_geoid": "4805000",
   "mayor": "Kirk Watson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2023-01-06",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 12
  },
  {
   "slug": "san_jose",
   "city": "San Jose",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 989814,
   "place_geoid": "0668000",
   "mayor": "Matt Mahan",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2023-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 13
  },
  {
   "slug": "charlotte",
   "city": "Charlotte",
   "state": "NC",
   "population": 964784,
   "place_geoid": "3712000",
   "mayor": "Rob Harrington",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2026-07-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Josh Stein",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 14
  },
  {
   "slug": "columbus",
   "city": "Columbus",
   "state": "OH",
   "population": 938396,
   "place_geoid": "3918000",
   "mayor": "Andrew Ginther",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2016-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Mike DeWine",
    "ovr_rank": 8,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 15
  },
  {
   "slug": "indianapolis",
   "city": "Indianapolis",
   "state": "IN",
   "population": 901116,
   "place_geoid": "1836003",
   "mayor": "Joe Hogsett",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2016-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Mike Braun",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 16
  },
  {
   "slug": "san_francisco",
   "city": "San Francisco",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 826079,
   "place_geoid": "0667000",
   "mayor": "Daniel Lurie",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2025-01-08",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 17
  },
  {
   "slug": "seattle",
   "city": "Seattle",
   "state": "WA",
   "population": 784777,
   "place_geoid": "5363000",
   "mayor": "Katie Wilson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2026-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Bob Ferguson",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 18
  },
  {
   "slug": "denver",
   "city": "Denver",
   "state": "CO",
   "population": 740613,
   "place_geoid": "0820000",
   "mayor": "Mike Johnston",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-07-17",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Jared Polis",
    "ovr_rank": 2,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 19
  },
  {
   "slug": "nashville",
   "city": "Nashville",
   "state": "TN",
   "population": 721074,
   "place_geoid": "4752006",
   "mayor": "Freddie O'Connell",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-09-25",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Bill Lee",
    "ovr_rank": 24,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 20
  },
  {
   "slug": "oklahoma_city",
   "city": "Oklahoma City",
   "state": "OK",
   "population": 719849,
   "place_geoid": "4055000",
   "mayor": "David Holt",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2018-04-10",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Kevin Stitt",
    "ovr_rank": 11,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 21
  },
  {
   "slug": "washington",
   "city": "Washington",
   "state": "DC",
   "population": 693645,
   "place_geoid": "1150000",
   "mayor": "Muriel Bowser",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2015-01-02",
   "state_context": null,
   "rank": 22
  },
  {
   "slug": "el_paso",
   "city": "El Paso",
   "state": "TX",
   "population": 683012,
   "place_geoid": "4824000",
   "mayor": "Renard Johnson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2025-01-06",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Greg Abbott",
    "ovr_rank": 22,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 23
  },
  {
   "slug": "las_vegas",
   "city": "Las Vegas",
   "state": "NV",
   "population": 679817,
   "place_geoid": "3240000",
   "mayor": "Shelley Berkley",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2024-12-04",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Joe Lombardo",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 24
  },
  {
   "slug": "boston",
   "city": "Boston",
   "state": "MA",
   "population": 672973,
   "place_geoid": "2507000",
   "mayor": "Michelle Wu",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2021-11-16",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Maura Healey",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 25
  },
  {
   "slug": "detroit",
   "city": "Detroit",
   "state": "MI",
   "population": 649095,
   "place_geoid": "2622000",
   "mayor": "Mary Sheffield",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2026-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gretchen Whitmer",
    "ovr_rank": 15,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 26
  },
  {
   "slug": "louisville",
   "city": "Louisville",
   "state": "KY",
   "population": 641962,
   "place_geoid": "2148006",
   "mayor": "Craig Greenberg",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-01-02",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Andy Beshear",
    "ovr_rank": 27,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 27
  },
  {
   "slug": "portland",
   "city": "Portland",
   "state": "OR",
   "population": 635109,
   "place_geoid": "4159000",
   "mayor": "Keith Wilson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2025-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Tina Kotek",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 28
  },
  {
   "slug": "memphis",
   "city": "Memphis",
   "state": "TN",
   "population": 609647,
   "place_geoid": "4748000",
   "mayor": "Paul Young",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2024-01-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Bill Lee",
    "ovr_rank": 24,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 29
  },
  {
   "slug": "baltimore",
   "city": "Baltimore",
   "state": "MD",
   "population": 569997,
   "place_geoid": "2404000",
   "mayor": "Brandon Scott",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2020-12-08",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Wes Moore",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 30
  },
  {
   "slug": "milwaukee",
   "city": "Milwaukee",
   "state": "WI",
   "population": 562407,
   "place_geoid": "5553000",
   "mayor": "Cavalier Johnson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2021-12-22",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Tony Evers",
    "ovr_rank": 4,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 31
  },
  {
   "slug": "albuquerque",
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   "state": "NM",
   "population": 556588,
   "place_geoid": "3502000",
   "mayor": "Tim Keller",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2017-12-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Michelle Lujan Grisham",
    "ovr_rank": 29,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 32
  },
  {
   "slug": "fresno",
   "city": "Fresno",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 555549,
   "place_geoid": "0627000",
   "mayor": "Jerry Dyer",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2021-01-04",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 33
  },
  {
   "slug": "tucson",
   "city": "Tucson",
   "state": "AZ",
   "population": 548371,
   "place_geoid": "0477000",
   "mayor": "Regina Romero",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2019-12-02",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Katie Hobbs",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 34
  },
  {
   "slug": "sacramento",
   "city": "Sacramento",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 536449,
   "place_geoid": "0664000",
   "mayor": "Kevin McCarty",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2024-12-10",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 35
  },
  {
   "slug": "atlanta",
   "city": "Atlanta",
   "state": "GA",
   "population": 529110,
   "place_geoid": "1304000",
   "mayor": "Andre Dickens",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2022-01-03",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Brian Kemp",
    "ovr_rank": 25,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 36
  },
  {
   "slug": "kansas_city",
   "city": "Kansas City",
   "state": "MO",
   "population": 521220,
   "place_geoid": "2938000",
   "mayor": "Quinton Lucas",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2019-08-01",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Mike Kehoe",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 37
  },
  {
   "slug": "mesa",
   "city": "Mesa",
   "state": "AZ",
   "population": 513656,
   "place_geoid": "0446000",
   "mayor": "Mark Freeman",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2025-01-07",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Katie Hobbs",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 38
  },
  {
   "slug": "raleigh",
   "city": "Raleigh",
   "state": "NC",
   "population": 506306,
   "place_geoid": "3755000",
   "mayor": "Janet Cowell",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2024-12-02",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Josh Stein",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 39
  },
  {
   "slug": "colorado_springs",
   "city": "Colorado Springs",
   "state": "CO",
   "population": 494743,
   "place_geoid": "0816000",
   "mayor": "Yemi Mobolade",
   "mayor_party": "Independent",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2023-06-06",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Jared Polis",
    "ovr_rank": 2,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "miami",
   "city": "Miami",
   "state": "FL",
   "population": 489812,
   "place_geoid": "1245000",
   "mayor": "Eileen Higgins",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2025-12-18",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Ron DeSantis",
    "ovr_rank": 17,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 41
  },
  {
   "slug": "omaha",
   "city": "Omaha",
   "state": "NE",
   "population": 488797,
   "place_geoid": "3137000",
   "mayor": "John Ewing Jr.",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "strong_mayor",
   "attribution": "executive_full",
   "since": "2025-06-09",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Jim Pillen",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 42
  },
  {
   "slug": "virginia_beach",
   "city": "Virginia Beach",
   "state": "VA",
   "population": 453737,
   "place_geoid": "5182000",
   "mayor": "Bobby Dyer",
   "mayor_party": "Republican",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2018-11-20",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Abigail Spanberger",
    "ovr_rank": null,
    "ovr_of": null
   },
   "rank": 43
  },
  {
   "slug": "long_beach",
   "city": "Long Beach",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 450469,
   "place_geoid": "0643000",
   "mayor": "Rex Richardson",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
   "government_form": "council_manager",
   "attribution": "executive_shared",
   "since": "2022-12-20",
   "state_context": {
    "governor": "Gavin Newsom",
    "ovr_rank": 20,
    "ovr_of": 29
   },
   "rank": 44
  },
  {
   "slug": "oakland",
   "city": "Oakland",
   "state": "CA",
   "population": 440838,
   "place_geoid": "0653000",
   "mayor": "Barbara Lee",
   "mayor_party": "Democratic",
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  }
 ]
}