As 2025 begins to wind down, many are already looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections across the country — with the filing period for races in North Carolina ending on Friday.

As of Dec. 19, candidates for federal, state and local offices can no longer file to formally begin their campaigns for the 2026 primary elections as a precursor to general elections later in November. In Chatham County, three county commissioner seats are available, as well as the role of sheriff after Mike Roberson announced he would be abdicating the latter position to run for the former. Three seats are available on Chatham County’s Board of Education, and there is a Clerk of Superior Court role open in the county as well.

There will also be a race for the U.S. House of Representatives playing out in Chatham County, as either Nigel Bristow, Loren Bibler, or Richard N. Ojeda II will run as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Richard Hudson for District 9’s seat.

Which Candidates Are On The Ballot?

Below is a list of all the candidates who have filed to run for local office or have declared their intentions to file. Candidates are separated by party affiliation (when relevant) and listed alphabetically by last name.

U.S. House – District 4

  • Nida Allam (D)
  • Valerie Foushee (D) – Incumbent
  • Mahesh (Max) Ganorkar (R)
  • Guy Meilleur (I)
  • Mary Patterson (D)

U.S. House – District 9

  • Loren Bibler (D)
  • Nigel Bristow (D)
  • Lent C. Carr II (D)
  • Richard Hudson (R) – Incumbent
  • Richard N. Ojeda II (D)

North Carolina Senate – District 20

  • Natalie S. Murdock (D) – Incumbent

North Carolina House – District 54

  • Robert T. Reives II (D) – Incumbent

Chatham County Board of Commissioners – District 3

  • Michael R. (Mike) Roberson (D) 
  • Kate O’Brien (D)

Chatham County Board of Commissioners – District 4

  • John M. Crowell (R)
  • Katie Kenlan (D) – Incumbent

Chatham County Board of Commissioners – District 5

  • Lynn Gaines (D)
  • Franklin Gomez Flores (D) – Incumbent
  • Steve Ganley (R)

Chatham County Sheriff

  • Marcus A. Globuschutz (R)
  • Steve Maynor (D) 

Chatham County Board of Education – District 3

 

Chatham County Board of Education – District 4

 

Chatham County Board of Education – District 5

 

District Attorney District 18

  • Jeff Nieman (D) – Incumbent

NC District Court Judge District 18 Seat 01

  • C. Todd Roper (D) – Incumbent

Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court

  • Dana M. Hackney (D)

What Are Upcoming Dates to Know?

Chatham County will also hold an election for the Soil and Water Conservation Board in 2026. The filing period for that election opens June 8 at 12:00 p.m. and runs through July 6 at 12:00 p.m. More information on the county’s specific elections can be found on Chatham County’s website.

Voter registration for the local primary election cycle will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, February 9. Early voting then runs from February 15 to March 2, which is another opportunity to initially register to vote. Primary Election Day itself is Tuesday, March 3, while the general election will end on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

 

Featured image via Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group

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