Charlotte, North Carolina, Mayor Vi Lyles overwhelmingly defeated four challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic primary as she and other Democrats face backlash for the murder of a young woman on the city’s transit system.

As Charlotte voters submit their ballots on Tuesday for the Charlotte City Council Primary, candidates spoke to Channel 9 about safety and leadership concerns in light of the light rail stabbing that took the life of Iryna Zarutska.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said Monday that the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on the city's light rail system was "a tragic failure by the courts and magistrates" and announced new steps to increase transit security.

The 2025 primary election is occurring as Charlotte finds itself in the national spotlight after a gruesome, fatal train stabbing.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles is coming under fire for her woke comments calling for compassion for the deranged vagrant who is accused of viciously murdering a Ukrainian refugee on a train in the city last month.

A Democratic mayor secured a comfortable win in a primary election despite days of intense backlash following the deadly stabbing of a young Ukrainian woman on a commuter train in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Vi Lyles advances to Charlotte's mayoral general election after winning a Democratic primary overshadowed by a Ukrainian refugee's murder on a light-rail train.

A 23-year-old woman was killed in a sudden, unprovoked train stabbing, with prosecutors saying she had little chance to defend herself.

Riders were outraged after the Charlotte train where Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was slaughtered had no additional security presence on Tuesday — a day after the city’s Democratic mayor

Voters across the Queen City cast their ballots Tuesday to decide who will lead the city as mayor, help shape the City Council, and represent their neighborhoods.