Her departure, previously planned for the end of the year, is now effective Sept. 30
2-Minute Brief
Why it matters
Manassas will soon have a new mayor. City Council will select someone to serve temporarily, and voters will later elect a successor to complete the remainder of Davis-Younger’s term.
What happened
Mayor Michelle Davis has submitted her written resignation and will leave office effective Sept. 30, 2026, the City of Manassas announced Friday, Aug. 21.
Her final City Council meeting will be Sept. 28. Davis previously said she intended to step down at the end of the year, but her formal resignation moves her departure up by three months.
Key facts
A Manassas native, Davis was elected to City Council in 2018 and elected mayor in 2020. She won reelection in 2024, securing a second term.
Her election marked a historic milestone: She became the first African American woman elected mayor of Manassas and the first woman to hold the office.
Her current term runs through Dec. 31, 2028.
What’s next
Once the mayor’s office becomes vacant, Vice Mayor Mark Wolfe will perform the mayor’s duties until an interim mayor is appointed and officially takes office.
The remaining City Council members will select the interim mayor. Under the Manassas City Charter, they may choose a current council member or another qualified Manassas voter.
Virginia law generally gives the council 45 days after the vacancy occurs to make the appointment. Before voting, the council must hold a public meeting identifying the people being considered and make their résumés and related materials available for public review. That meeting must take place at least seven days before the appointment.
If the council does not make an appointment, the Circuit Court judges may do so.
If a current council member is selected as mayor, that person must give up the council seat, creating another vacancy that would also need to be filled.
The appointment will be temporary. The Manassas City Charter and Virginia law provide for voters to elect a successor to complete the remainder of Davis-Younger’s term.
The timing of that election has not been announced. The City of Manassas said additional information about the transition will be released as it becomes available.
Learn more
City of Manassas announcement:
https://www.manassasva.gov/news_detail_T11_R416.php
Manassas City Charter:
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/charters/manassas/
Virginia law governing mayoral vacancies:
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title24.2/chapter2/section24.2-228/
Journal Note
The Manassas Journal will continue following the transition and provide updates when the interim appointment process and election date are announced.
