The results of the North Carolina Court of Appeals elections could determine whether Democrats have any voice at all on the state’s second-highest court.

The seat is held by Republican Addison McDowell. He faces the Democratic mayor of High Point, Cyril Jefferson. This race features two of the youngest candidates running for U.S. Congress in North Carolina. As of June 2026, McDowell has raised more than $1 million for his campaign versus Jefferson’s $157,000. The Cook Political Report estimates that this district leans Republican by 9 percentage points.

Cabarrus County Commissioners are the chief administrative authority in the county and are responsible for determining the strategic vision and direction of the County. The Commissioners are responsible for setting policy, adopting the annual budget, establishing the tax rate, overseeing operations (including roads, bridges and public buildings) and hiring the county manager. The five-member board serves staggered four-year, at-large terms. Three Republicans are facing three Democrats and a Libertarian candidate in the general election in November 2026. There are three seats up for election; only one incumbent, who was recently appointed, is on the ballot. The county’s overall budget is more than $400M. The county is currently working on ways to reduce a projected deficit of more than $13M for the budget for fiscal year 2027.

Cabarrus County voters will be asked to vote on three bond referendums in this election totaling $440 million. This brochure from The Chamber, Leading Business in Cabarrus (which is a sponsor of The Election Hub) provides more detail about how public education is funded and the role that bonds play in educational funding in general and within Cabarrus County.

The Cabarrus County School Board of Education sets standards, policy and goals for the district, hires the superintendent, approves the budget, ensures accountability for student achievement and oversees instructional materials and curriculum. The Board consists of seven members who serve staggered four-year terms. There are three seats on the board that are up for election this year.