The March Primary ballot will be a short one in Columbus, since multiple nominations are not contested.
Democrat candidates were lacking in the filing for the 2026 primaries. In several races, there will not be a primary race for Republican or Democrat seats, since only one candidate filed. Unopposed candidates appear on the November ballot, even if they are the presumptive winner in their respective races.
Jenna Earley and JK Somers are vying for the Republican nomination for District Attorney. No Democrat filed to run for the post. District Attorney Jon David announced in September that he is not seeking reelection, and endorsed Earley, who is currently first assistant prosecutor for the district. Somers is an attorney from Brunswick County.
Incumbent District Six Ricky Bullard faces a two way challenge from Jeanne McPherson and Jody Hinson in the Republican primary. No Democrat candidates filed for the race.
Jeff Register and Alonzo McArthur are after the Democrat nomination for the District Seven commission seat. Incumbent Scott Floyd, a Republican, currently holds that chair and will be on the November ballot.
For sheriff, Ken Elliot, Bill Rogers, Kevin Norris and Josh McPherson are running for the Republican nod for sheriff. There is no Democrat candidate for sheriff.
Several state and federal primary races are contested.
In what has become one of the most-watched and potentially most expensive U.S. Senate races in the nation, former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, faces a field of five challengers for the nomination. Daryl Farrow, Justin Dues, Robert Colon, Marcus Williams and Orrick Quick are challenging Cooper for the nomination. Cooper is the farthest ahead of any of his challengers, and in November will face the Republican nominee.
Political powerhouse Michael Whatley had been endorsed by President Donald Trump to replace the retiring Thom Tills in the Senate, and has six challengers for the Republican nomination. Don Brown, a Charlotte attorney, is close behind Whatley and even ahead of him in several polls. Other candidates for the nomination are Margot Dupre, Richard Dansie, Elizabeth Temple, Michele Morrow and Thomas Johnson.
Incumbent Congressman David Rouzer had a last-minute challenger file for the Republican Dist. 7 seat, David Buzzard of Wilmington.
While judicial races are non-partisan, two Court of Appeals seats have primary races. Michael Byrne and Matt Smith are vying for the Republican Seat One slot, while James Whalen and Christine Walczyk are running for the Democrat Seat Three.
Winners in the primaries will go on to the November ballot.
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