Filing for the 2026 elections closed at noon today, and a number of races will likely be decided in the March Primary.
Republicans dominated the filing period, with only a handful of democrats filing for office.
Irvin Enzor and Chris Worley are unopposed for the County Board of Education Districts Three and Four seats they currently hold. Neither Republican will face a Democrat in the November election.
Republican Ronnie Dale Strickland is unopposed for the County Board of Education District Two nomination. He will face Beatrice Addison-Robinson in November. Addison-Robinson is the only Democrat to file to run for a county school board seat.
Clerk of Superior Court Jess Hill is unopposed in the primary, and no Democrats foiled to run for the post in the fall.
In the county commissioner’s races, Democrat Barbara Featherson is unopposed for the District One nomination. No Republicans filed for the position.
The District Six Commissioner’s race has Republican incumbent Rickey Bullard facing a challenge from Jeanne McPherson and Jody Hinson. Alonzo McArthur and Jeff Register are running for the democrat nod for District Seven, which is currently held by Republican Scott Floyd. He is unopposed in the primary.
Four candidates are on the Republican slate for sheriff, with no Democrats filing. Appointed Sheriff Bill Rogers will face Ken Elliot, Josh McPherson and Kevin Norris for the Republican nomination.
In a surprise move, First Asst. District Attorney Jenna Earley has a challenger for the Republican nomination for District Attorney. Brunswick County attorney J.K. Somers filed last week for the race. The DA’s office serves Brunswick, Columbus and Bladen counties. District Attorney Jon David did not file for reelection, and endorsed Earley for the run.
In state races, Republican Brenden Jones, the incumbent representative from Tabor City, will face Democrat Newton of Whiteville in the fall. Fair Bluff native and Southport resident Bill Rabon has no challenger in the Republican primary for State Senate. He will face Democrat Rick Combes of Ocean Isle and Libertarian Timothy White of Wilmington.
Congressman David Rouzer will face Democrat Kimberly Hardy in the fall.
As normally happens, a flurry of candidates filed this week for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Thom Tillis.
Former Gov. Roy Cooper is considered the leader on the Democrat ticket, where Daryl Farrow, Marcus Williams, Orrick Quick, Justin Dues and Robert Colon are vying for the nod.
On the Republican side, Michael Whatley faces a staunch challenge from Don Brown. Other candidate running for the Republican nomination for Senate include Elizabeth Temple, Margot Dupre, Thomas Johnson and Michelle Morrow. Whatley will appear at a rally and fundraiser with President Donald Trump today in the northeastern part of the state.
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