1981 Durham mayoral election

Durham mayoral election, 1981

November 3, 1981
 
Candidate Charles Markham Harry E. Rodenhizer Jr.
Party nonpartisan candidate Nonpartisan
Popular vote 7,799 6,825
Percentage 53.33% 46.67%

Mayor before election

Harry E. Rodenhizer Jr.
Republican

Elected mayor

Charles Markham

The 1981 Durham mayoral election was held on November 3, 1981, to elect the mayor of Durham, North Carolina. It saw the election of Charles Markham, who unseated incumbent mayor Harry E. Rodenhizer Jr.