2026 Voter Guide

There are 50 members in the North Carolina Senate, and they serve as the "upper house" of the General Assembly. Their powers include proposing and passing laws, along with the state House; fiscal oversight of the state budget; gubernatorial veto overrides; confirmation of certain executive branch appointments; redistricting; proposing N.C. constitutional amendments and providing constituent services. State residents must be at least 25 years old to run for the Senate, and they must have lived in N.C. for at least two years. State Senators serve two-year terms with no term limits.

District 73 is located in Cabarrus County, encompassing suburban and small-town communities northeast of Charlotte.Incumbent Jonathan Almond ran unopposed in the Republican primary. On the Democratic side, primary candidate Kim DeLaney passed away in January 2026, leaving Thomas Monks as the sole Democratic nominee without a contested primary. Key issues include inflation and cost-of-living relief as well as public education funding.

District 82 is in Cabarrus County, covering a mix of suburban Concord/Harrisburg-area communities and more rural parts of the county.

Republican incumbent Grant Campbell, a physician and Army veteran, faces Democrat Johnnie Jones after Democrat Cortez Ferrell withdrew from the race.

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.

N.C. House District 88 covers parts of south-central Mecklenburg County. The district's median age is 33 years, younger than the state median of 39. Its median household income is $81,000, making it more affluent than the state of North Carolina, where median household income is $72,000.Among registered voters in the district, 42% are unaffiliated, 39% are Democrats and 18% are Republicans.Incumbent Democrat Mary Belk is running for her sixth term and faces Republican Ray Craig.

N.C. House District 92 is located in the southwestern portion of Mecklenburg County, bordering Gaston County and South Carolina. The median age in the district is 35, younger than the state median of 39. Its median household income is $93,000, greater than the state median household income of $72,000.Among registered voters in the district, 43% are Democrats, 39% are unaffiliated and 17% are Republicans.Incumbent Democrat Terry Brown is running for his fourth term. He has always run unopposed.

N.C. House District 98 is the northernmost one in the county and includes Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville. This district is one of the older and wealthier districts in the county. Its median age is 43 versus the state median of 39. Its median household income is $126,000, substantially higher than the state’s median of $72,000.Among registered voters in the district, 44% are unaffiliated, 31% are Republicans and 24% are Democrats.Incumbent Democrat Beth Helfrich is seeking her second term against Republican John Rhodes, a former state house representative.