The Green Papers: North Carolina 2026 General Election
 
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Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 3 March 2026
✓ Second Primary (there are no runoffs for offices covered by this site): Tuesday 12 May 2026
General Election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
✓ Monday 1 December - Friday 19 December 2025 - Filing - Primary .
✓ Tuesday 3 March 2026 - Primary . Polling hours 6:30a-7:30p EST (1130-0030 UTC). In extraordinary circumstances, the county board of elections may direct that the polls remain open until 8:30 p.m.
✓ Tuesday 3 March 2026 - Filing Deadline: Independent/Third/Minor .
✓ Tuesday 12 May 2026 - Second Primary (there are no runoffs for offices covered by this site) . Polling hours 6:30a-7:30p EDT (1030-2330 UTC). In extraordinary circumstances, the county board of elections may direct that the polls remain open until 8:30 p.m.
✓ Tuesday 21 July 2026 - Filing deadline: Write-in submitted to County .
✓ Wednesday 5 August 2026 - Filing deadline: Write-in submitted to State .
Tuesday 3 November 2026 - General Election . Polling hours 6:30a-7:30p EST (1130-0030 UTC). In extraordinary circumstances, the county board of elections may direct that the polls remain open until 8:30 p.m.
 
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
Governor:1 
2020 Census:10,453,948 (3.37% of 309,785,186)
2024, 2028 Electoral Votes:16(0.00% of 538)
2022-2030 Representatives:14(3.22% of 435)
Capital:Raleigh
 

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North Carolina State and Local Government


If no candidate receives 30% of the vote in the North Carolina regular or special primary, the two leading candidates proceed to a run off. Unopposed candidates do not appear on the primary ballot. The runoff is held 7 weeks after the primary when the run-off is required for only statewide offices or 10 weeks after the primary when the run-off is required a Federal office.

The primary is for the Constitution, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Republican parties.

Write-ins are allowed in the general election, but are not permitted in primary elections.


Running for Office, 2026 Primary Election, Unaffiliated Candidate Petitions, Write-in Candidates, 2026 General Election, and 2026 Second Primary Election from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

2026 Candidate Lists from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

3 March 2026 Primary returns from an official source and and results from a media source.

 
           

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 119th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 2
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Senator  Thomas Roland "Thom" Tillis
• First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2020.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 29 June 2025: "It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election...."
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (4)
  Candidate Democratic     former Govermor Roy Asberry Cooper, III
• 28 July 2025: Announcement of candidacy.
First elected: 2016; re-elected: 2020; term limited in 2024.

• FEC S6NC00407; 30 Jun 26; Tot $34,975,789; Dsb $14,258,222
  Candidate Republican     Michael David Whatley
• FEC S6NC00415; 30 Jun 26; Tot $11,272,504; Dsb $7,810,806
  Candidate Green     Michael Louis Dublin, Jr.
• FEC S6NC00563; 30 Jun 26; Tot $25,276; Dsb $16,990
  Candidate Libertarian     Shannon Wilson Bray
• FEC S0NC00335
 29 March 2021: Senator Thomas Roland "Thom" Tillis (Republican) stated that that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his prognosis is good, and he expects to make a full recovery.

Class 3 Republican Senator  Theodore Paul "Ted" Budd
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Republican     Zachary Jordan Brown
• FEC S8NC00338

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms, All Governors

  Democratic Governor  Joshua Harold "Josh" Stein
• First elected: 2024.
• Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028
• The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Republican     Monroe Mayor  Robert Burns

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Democratic Lieutenant Governor  Rachel H. Hunt
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

119th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2026, 2028. No Term Limit. 119th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
4 Democratic (3 Renominated, 1 Undetermined);
10 Republican (1 Undetermined, 8 Renominated, 1 Open)

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 1
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Member of Congress  Donald Gene "Don" Davis
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Member of Congress  Donald Gene "Don" Davis
• FEC H2NC02287; 30 Jun 26; Tot $4,287,386; Dsb $987,862
  Candidate Republican     Laurie Gaye Moe Buckhout
• FEC H4NC01137; 30 Jun 26; Tot $3,793,077; Dsb $1,989,720
  Candidate Libertarian     Thomas Aaron "Tom" Bailey
• FEC H8NC13075

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 2
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Member of Congress  Deborah Koff Ross
• First elected: 2020
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Member of Congress  Deborah Koff Ross
• FEC H0NC02125; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,675,978; Dsb $1,075,801
  Candidate Republican     Eugene Farley "Gene" Douglass
• FEC H4NC02135
  Candidate Libertarian     Matthew Frank "Matt" Laszacs
• FEC H6NC02205
  Candidate Write-in; (Green)     Brian McGinnis
• Filed for Senate FEC S6NC00464.
Filed for US House 2 FEC H6NC02213.

• FEC S6NC00464; 30 Jun 26; Tot $68,363; Dsb $19,676

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 3
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Gregory Francis "Greg" Murphy
• First elected in a Special Election: 10 September 2019 [re: passing of Member of Congress Walter B. Jones, Jr. (Republican).
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     former state Representative Raymond Edward Smith, Jr.
• FEC H6NC03229; 30 Jun 26; Tot $223,119; Dsb $137,467
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Gregory Francis "Greg" Murphy
• FEC H0NC03172; 30 Jun 26; Tot $2,357,956; Dsb $1,243,599
  Candidate Libertarian     Daniel Thomas Cavender
• FEC H6NC03237

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 4
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Member of Congress  Valerie Paige Foushee
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Member of Congress  Valerie Paige Foushee
• 3 March 2026 Primary: Received 49.2% of the vote.

• FEC H2NC06114; 30 Jun 26; Tot $912,011; Dsb $949,918
  Candidate Republican     Mahesh Aychut "Max" Ganorkar
• FEC H4NC02150 or H2NC06106

• FEC H4NC02150; 30 Jun 26; Tot $11,917; Dsb $10,302
  Candidate Libertarian     Guy Philip Meilleur
• FEC H4NC04149

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 5
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Virginia Ann Foxx
• First elected: 2004
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Charles Noble "Chuck" Hubbard
• FEC H4NC05294; 30 Jun 26; Tot $394,695; Dsb $302,276
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Virginia Ann Foxx
• FEC H4NC05146; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,662,604; Dsb $1,204,804
  Candidate Libertarian     Robert Blaine Luffman
• FEC H6NC05174

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 6
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Addison Parker McDowell
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     High Point City Council Member/Mayor  Cyril Anthony Jefferson
• FEC H6NC06164; 30 Jun 26; Tot $199,881; Dsb $185,984
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Addison Parker McDowell
• FEC H4NC06177; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,226,408; Dsb $852,003

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 7
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  David Cheston Rouzer
• First elected: 2014
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Kimberly Michelle Hardy
• FEC H6NC07196; 30 Jun 26; Tot $293,818; Dsb $228,801
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  David Cheston Rouzer
• FEC H2NC07096; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,990,423; Dsb $1,124,461
  Candidate Libertarian     Maad Hatiz Abu-Ghazalah
• FEC H6NC07204; 30 Jun 26; Tot $7,341; Dsb $6,890

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 8
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Mark Everette Harris
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Colby Lawrence Watson
• FEC H6NC08202; 30 Jun 26; Tot $39,569; Dsb $37,232
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Mark Everette Harris
• FEC H6NC0920 or H4NC08066 or H6NC09200

• FEC H6NC09200; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,019,134; Dsb $608,814
  Candidate Green     Robert William "Bo" Whitehead
• FEC H6NC08210

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 9
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Richard Lane Hudson, Jr.
• First elected: 2012
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     former West Virginia state Senator Richard Neece Ojeda, II
• FEC H6NC09218; 30 Jun 26; Tot $2,237,508; Dsb $2,073,836
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Richard Lane Hudson, Jr.
• FEC H2NC08185; 30 Jun 26; Tot $3,215,341; Dsb $2,511,943

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 10
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Patrick Luke "Pat" Harrigan
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Ashley Thrasher Bell
• FEC H6NC10174; 30 Jun 26; Tot $84,024; Dsb $57,805
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Patrick Luke "Pat" Harrigan
• FEC H2NC13243; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,081,821; Dsb $683,387
  Candidate Libertarian     Steven Richard "Steve" Feldman
• FEC H4NC10146; 30 Jun 26; Tot $36,857; Dsb $52,776

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 11
Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Member of Congress  Charles Marion "Chuck" Edwards
• First elected: 2022.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Open Seat - 5 August 2026: "... I've decided to withdraw from my re-election campaign. I will complete my current term." The state Republican Party's executive committee for the congressional district will chose a replacement nominee on 10 August. The House Ethics Committee is recommending censure regarding sexual harassment of his staff.
3 March 2026: Renominated in Republican Primary.
 ** Open Seat (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     James Peterson "Jamie" Ager
• FEC H6NC11248; 30 Jun 26; Tot $3,052,354; Dsb $867,576
  Candidate Republican     state Representative  Jennifer Capps Balkcom
• 10 August 2026: Replacement candidate nominated by convention.

• FEC H6NC11321
  Candidate Libertarian     Travis Jason Groo
• FEC H6NC11313

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 12
Seat up for regular election
Democratic Member of Congress  Alma Shealey Adams
• First elected in concurrent general and special elections [re: to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Member of Congress Melvin L. "Mel" Watt (Democratic)]: 4 November 2014
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Member of Congress  Alma Shealey Adams
• FEC H4NC12100; 30 Jun 26; Tot $370,506; Dsb $487,322
  Candidate Republican     John Christopher "Jack" Codiga
• FEC H6NC12113; 30 Jun 26; Tot $28,704; Dsb $28,701

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 13
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  John Bradford "Brad" Knott
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (3) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Paul Jehu Barringer, III
• FEC H6NC13228; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,022,610; Dsb $508,054
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  John Bradford "Brad" Knott
• FEC H4NC13116; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,339,161; Dsb $648,627
  Candidate Libertarian     Steven Zshon Michael Swinton
• FEC H6NC13251

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 14
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress  Timothy Keith "Tim" Moore
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026
• Renominated
 Candidate list (2) - 120th Congress
  Candidate Democratic     Lakesha Shanese Womack
• FEC H6NC14069; 30 Jun 26; Tot $24,888; Dsb $26,124
  Candidate Republican     Member of Congress  Timothy Keith "Tim" Moore
• FEC H4NC14015; 30 Jun 26; Tot $1,538,952; Dsb $880,526

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Democratic Secretary of State  Elaine Folk Marshall
• First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Democratic Attorney General  Jeffrey Neale "Jeff" Jackson
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Republican Treasurer  Bradford Blaise "Brad" Briner
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Republican Auditor  David Luther "Dave" Boliek
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Commissioner of Agriculture  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Republican Agriculture Commissioner  Steven Wayne "Steve" Troxler
• First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Commissioner of Insurance  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Republican Insurance Commissioner  John Michael "Mike" Causey
• First elected: 2016; re-elected: 2020, 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Commissioner of Labor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Republican Labor Commissioner  Luke John Farley
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028

Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2024, 2028

  Democratic Public Instruction Superintendent  Maurice Oliver "Mo" Green
• First elected: 2024.
• Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 7 November 2028
 

Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
 • Democratic (affiliates): 9 incumbents, 15 candidates
 • Republican: 17 incumbents, 17 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
 • Constitution (affiliates)
 • Green (affiliates): 3 candidates
 • Libertarian: 10 candidates
Other Third Parties
 • Justice Party
 • Right to Life
 • Unity
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
 • Write-in: 1 candidate
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.


Links Links to other web sites

Election Authority
 • North Carolina State Board of Elections
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
 • North Carolina General Assembly
 • North Carolina General Assembly - House
 • North Carolina General Assembly - Senate
 • North Carolina General Statutes
Republican
 • North Carolina House Republicans
Third Party
 • Constitution Party of North Carolina
 • Justice Party of North Carolina
 • Libertarian Party of North Carolina
 • North Carolina Green Party
 • North Carolina Right To Life
 • The Unity Party of North Carolina
Media & others
 • Concord and Kannapolis Independent Tribune
 • Daily Herald - Roanoke Rapids
 • Goldsboro News-Argus
 • Hickory Daily Record
 • Mooresville Tribune
 • Mount Olive Tribune
 • News & Record - Greensboro
 • Politics1.com - North Carolina
 • Statesville Record and Landmark
 • The Courier-Tribune - Asheboro
 • The Daily News - Jacksonville
 • The McDowell News
 • The Morganton News Herald
 • The New Bern Sun Journal
 • The Pilot - Southern Pines
 • Winston-Salem Journal
 • WRAL TV - CBS - Raleigh

 


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