Early voting remains steady in Columbus County, with 899 ballots cast by close of business Tuesday. One-stop polls run through Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.
Five early voting sites are open in Columbus County – the County Board of Elections office, Ransom Center, Chadbourn Municipal Annex, Tabor City Courthouse, and Fair Bluff Fire Department.
An approved photo ID is required to vote. If you do not have a valid ID, you can get one for free at the board of elections office until Feb. 28. The primary is March 3.
During the primaries, voters may only use ballots for their registered party. Unaffiliated voters must ask for a Democrat or Republican ballot. Several races will essentially be decided in the primary, barring petitioned write-ins or unaffiliated candidates.
Most local races will be determined in the primaries, with Republicans dominating the ticket this season. Primaries give registered voters a chance to choose their nominee for the general election in November, unless a party does not produce a candidate in the primary.
In the sheriff’s race, only Republican candidates filed to run. Chadborn Police Chief Ken Elliot and former Columbus sheriff’s deputies Josh McPherson and Kevin Norris are challenging appointed sheriff Bill Rogers. The county elected its first Republican sheriff, Jody Greene, in 2018, then reelected him in 2022. Rogers was appointed by the county commissioners when Greene resigned shortly after taking his second oath of office.
Republican Jess Hill is unopposed for clerk of court.
Irvin Enzor and Chris Worley are unopposed for the County Board of Education Districts Three and Four seats they currently hold. Neither will face a Democrat in the November election.
Democrat Beatrice Addison-Robinson will fac incumbent Republican Ronnie Dale Strickland for the County Board of Education District Two seat in the fall. Both are unopposed for the nomination.
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.
First Assistant District Attorney Jenna Early and Brunswick County lawyer J.K. Somers are vying for the Republican nomination for district attorney.
In state races, Republican Brenden Jones, the incumbent representative from Tabor City, will face Democrat Brittany 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 in November.
Congressman David Rouzer will face Democrat Kimberly Hardy in the fall.
A wide field of Democrats and Republicans are vying to replace Thom Tillis in the U.S. Senate. Tillis did not run for reelection.
Former Gov. Roy Cooper is leading the pack of Democrat senatorial candidates. Cooper is on the Democrat ticket against Daryl Farrow, Marcus Williams, Orrick Quick, Justin Dues and Robert Colon.
On the Republican side, Michael Whatley, who was endorsed by Pres. Donald Trump, faces a growing challenge from Navy veteran Don Brown.
Other candidates running for the Republican nomination for Senate include Elizabeth Temple, Thomas Johnson and Michelle Morrow.
While Margot Dupre will appear on the ballot, votes cast for her will not county, due to her being ineligible to run due to residency.
