Corey Branch, longtime city councilman, is running for Raleigh mayor

Longtime councilman Corey Branch is running for Raleigh mayor in the 2024 election.

Branch, 45, made the announcement Thursday on a number of platforms, including Instagram. He has served on Raleigh City Council for almost nine years.

In an interview with WRAL News, Branch, an electrical engineer, said a big focus of his campaign is on crime and public safety.

"Throughout the entire city it's something we need to work on and address," he said. "Crime is a major issue overall ... it used to be in one area of the city. Now it's throughout the entire city. It doesn't matter what ZIP code you live in."

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin recently told WRAL News she intends to run for re-election. Baldwin was not available Thursday for an interview, but issued the following statement.

"At this time, I intend to run again, but will not make a formal announcement until the spring when filing begins," Baldwin said. "We have to focus on governance right and the big issues we are facing — ranging from affordable housing to transit to public safety. Those are my priorities.”

Also, Branch said Baldwin is aware he is running against her.

"We've had a conversation," he said. "She's aware of me running for the mayor's seat. It was a very cordial conversation."

WRAL News asked Branch's opinion on preventing tragedies like the mass shooting in Maine.

"We have to be prepared for it," he said. "We have to learn from Hedingham, we have to learn from what's happening in Maine, and also that comes back to working with businesses and making sure they have the proper safety measures in place to make sure residents are safe."

Branch also discussed the importance of cost of living.

"The first step is income," he said. "We have to find a way to deal with incomes and make sure people can get paid a wage where they can stay here and live here."

Branch said his run for mayor has nothing to do with Baldwin.

"It's not about Mayor Baldwin for me," he said. "It's about looking at the city that I've grown up in and seeing the challenges that native Raleighites are facing ... this race is about the city. It's about our future and how we move and work together, and that's why I'm putting my name in."