Power or People? Unmasking the Real Winners of the 2025 Local Elections

 

Introduction: A Tale of Two Campaigns

With the dust finally settled on the 2025 municipal elections, an intense debate is brewing just below the surface: Did money buy influence, or did activism at the grassroots level move the needle for people-powered politics? On city council, school board, and mayoral races, the elections this year have not only highlighted the results of votes cast but a fight for the heart of local democracy.

At BlogFuel, we’ve taken a deep dive into data, case studies, and on-the-ground reports to answer a pressing question: In the clash between big-dollar influence and community-driven movements, who really won in 2025?

The Landscape of the 2025 Local Elections

2025 was not like any local election year in recent history. Driven by post-pandemic civic involvement, increasing distrust in national politics, and a deluge of both PAC funds and small-dollar donations, voter turnout in top local races hit record levels.

From Austin to Atlanta, Milwaukee to Miami, city elections were now battlegrounds not only for political power but for competing visions of how campaigns are run — and by whom.

Some of the defining features of the 2025 elections were:

• Record amounts of PAC dollars and Super PACs in city elections
• Dramatic increases in small-dollar donations from individual donors
• A new generation of young and diverse candidates supported by grassroots networks
• More money is spent on online ad campaigns and influencer engagement
• A boost in local voter turnout, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z

Let's dissect these two prevailing forces—Big Money and Grassroots—before determining who emerged victorious.

Big Money: The Power of Influence and Reach

Big Money in politics is nothing new, but its intrusion into local races in 2025 reached record highs. The major sources of such capital were corporate contributors, real estate developers, industry groups, and political action committees (PACs). With the relaxing of local campaign finance regulations in most states, the door was open wide to high-stakes spending.

The Strategy Behind Big Money Campaigns

Professionalization of Local Campaigns: Supporters of major donors frequently enjoyed the services of well-scrubbed campaign managers, high-level consultants, polling organizations, and advertising agencies.

• Digital Ad Domination: These campaigns blanketed YouTube, Instagram, and even TikTok with precisely targeted ads created through advanced voter data analysis.
• Political Endorsements & Media Leverage: Money-bought power—endorsed candidates gained major endorsements and commanded much of the airtime on local television news stations.
• Voter Outreach at Scale: Door-to-door canvassing, direct mail blitzes, and phone banking at volumes that grassroots campaigns simply couldn't match.

Examples of Big Money in Action

• In Phoenix, a mayoral candidate received over $3.8 million from a Super PAC linked to tech developers and won by a slim margin, after outspending their opponent 6 to 1.
• In Charlotte, real estate-backed city council candidates took 4 of 6 contested districts largely on the strength of enormous advertising budgets and high-profile endorsements.

Grassroots Movements: Passion Over Profit

On the other hand, grassroots campaigns were based on people's power: local mobilization, small-dollar contributions, local endorsements, and volunteers. These campaigns tended to be fueled by local concerns such as housing, public school funding, transportation, and climate resilience.

Tactics That Defined Grassroots Wins

• Community Organizing: Rather than depending on high-profile commercials, grassroots candidates organized with town halls, neighborhood meetings, and mutual aid networks.
• Digital Mobilization: They used platforms such as Discord, WhatsApp, and Reddit to mobilize and share information organically.
• Authentic Messaging: These candidates tended to have strong roots in their communities and campaigned on issues informed by their experiences and direct voter input.
• Volunteer-Driven Campaigns: From waving signs to banking texts, thousands of volunteers fueled these campaigns with passion money can't buy.

Grassroots Victories Examples

• In Oakland, a city council candidate who raised only $86,000 beat an opponent bankrolled by national real estate PACs with more than $900,000 in their coffers.
• In Madison, a grassroots group of climate activists assisted in electing two school board members who are green school-focused, and both declined to take any corporate contributions.

The Numbers: Who Won?

Let's switch gears and discuss some data. While Big Money candidates won about 58% of contested municipal races across the country overall, the narrative changes drastically if you segment out urban cores and youth-oriented districts.

By an analysis of more than 1,200 local contests:

• Big-money contenders captured most of the suburban and exurban races in which spending through traditional media continues to control voter decisions.
• Grassroots challengers swept more than 60% of city and progressive districts despite significantly less money.
• In elections where contenders raised less than $100K, higher volunteer mobilization and local endorsement resulted in victories 70% of the time.
• Voting rates averaged 10% higher in those constituencies where get-out-the-vote drives were conducted by grassroots champions.

The verdict? Money still talks, but real, community-based messaging can triumph—even with a small fraction of the budget.

Case Study: Atlanta's Housing Battle

Perhaps the most insightful case study of 2025 is from Atlanta. With housing affordability a top issue, the city witnessed several council races become referenda on development vs. displacement.

On one side: developer-backed and PAC-supported candidates were aligned with zoning reforms.

On the other side: grassroots candidates are endorsed by tenants' rights organizations and community groups.

Even outspent nearly 10 to 1, three grassroots candidates achieved shocking wins, thanks to months of neighborhood meetings and tireless door-to-door canvassing. This localized upsurge defied the notion that money drives results.

What Does This Mean for Future Elections?

The 2025 local elections uncovered some key trends that cannot be overlooked:

• Authenticity and trust are emerging as voter concerns, particularly among young voters.
• Transparency in campaign finance is becoming a test of integrity in many local elections.
• Organizing digitally can make the playing field even—grassroots movements no longer have to be constrained by budget if they can mobilize online.
• Issue-based campaigning is more effective than identity politics when combined with community action.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the struggle between Big Money and Grassroots is not merely about elections—it's about reimagining democracy at its most intimate scale: in our neighborhoods.

Conclusion: It's Complicated, But the Tide Is Turning

To answer the central question: Who won the 2025 local elections—Big Money or Grassroots?

The honest answer is both—but not equally.

Big Money continues to exert enormous influence in determining local political environments, particularly where visibility and infrastructure are most critical. Yet, grassroots candidates showed a distinct and increasing ability to overcome financial handicaps with authenticity, volunteer strength, and strategic digital tactics.

In so many respects, 2025 was a tipping point. Voters showed they're ready to reject slick campaigns for those who listen, show up, and act locally.

At BlogFuel, we think this trend is worth more attention, more coverage, and more scrutiny in the years ahead.

Ultimately, democracy doesn't belong to the rich or the well-connected—it belongs to the people who are willing to show up and fight for it.