This fall, all 170 state house and senate seats will be on voters’ ballots across the state. Some races will be competitive, with one Republican, one Democrat, and potentially one Libertarian candidate running. Others will feature only one candidate running unopposed if no one else filed to run during the filing period this past month for the March primary.
In a handful of legislative districts in Wake, Durham, and Orange Counties, more than one candidate from the same party filed, so voters living in those districts may vote in the primary, depending on their voter registration.
Here’s who will appear on voters’ ballots leading up to and on Election Day on March 3.
N.C. Senate
District 13 (No primary)
This district includes the southern part of Wake County. One Democrat and one Republican have filed to run for this seat, so there will be no primary election.
N.C. Senate District 13 Democratic candidate
Lisa Grafstein was first elected in 2022 and is seeking a third term. She is a civil rights attorney specializing in employment law and disability rights. As a legislator she has focused on health care, reproductive rights, and affordability.
N.C. Senate District 13 Republican candidate
Robert van Brederode
A resident of Fuquay-Varina, Robert van Brederode is a tax lawyer specializing in international and global consumption taxes according to his LinkedIn profile.
District 14 (No primary)
This district covers Southeast Raleigh and a large portion of Wake County. One Democrat and one Republican filed to run for this seat, so there will be no primary election.
N.C. Senate District 14 Democratic candidate
Dan Blue Jr. has been a fixture in North Carolina politics for more than four decades, serving as state house speaker in the 1990s and as the former state senate leader. In the General Assembly, Blue has focused on public education, economic growth, and health care.
N.C. Senate District 14 Republican candidate
Angela B. McCarty
A teacher, Wake Forest resident Angela B. McCarty challenged Dan Blue Jr. for this seat in 2024, earning about 24 percent of the vote. While there is little public information available, McCarty’s 2024 campaign Facebook page said her top priority was “school safety pertaining to gun violence and drugs” and “school choice.”
District 15 (No primary)
This district covers a large portion of central and North Raleigh. One Democrat and one Republican have filed to run for this seat, so there will be no primary.
NC Senate District 15 Democratic candidate
A state senator since 2016 and the current Democratic whip, Jay Chaudhuri has focused on supporting public education and economic innovation.
N.C. Senate District 15 Republican candidate
David Bankert
David Bankert has worked in business for the fields of engineering, manufacturing, and construction for more than three decades. He unsuccessfully challenged Chaudhuri for the District 15 seat in 2024, earning 30 percent of the vote.
District 16 (No primary)
This district covers Cary. One Democrat, one Republican, and one Libertarian have filed to run for this seat, so there will be no primary.
N.C. Senate District 16 Democratic candidate
Gale Adcock is running for her third term in the state senate after serving two terms in the house. A family nurse practitioner who worked at SAS for 26 years, Adcock has focused on public education, access to health care, strengthening the economy, and environmental issues during her time in the legislature.
N.C. Senate District 16 Republican candidate
Philip Hensley
Philip Hensley is a Cary business owner who ran against Rep. Allison Dahle in the state house District 11 race in 2024. An advocate for repairing Cary’s state-owned roads, Hensley earned about 32 percent of the vote that year.
N.C. Senate District 16 Libertarian candidate
Jonathan Miller
There is little public information available about Libertarian candidate Jonathan Miller.
District 17 (Republican primary only)
This district covers parts of Cary, Apex, and western Wake County. With one Democrat, one Libertarian, and two Republicans in the race, there will be a Republican primary.
N.C. Senate District 17 Democratic candidate
Sydney Batch, a family law attorney, has served in both the state house and state senate, and last December was elected as the senate’s Democratic leader, ousting longtime Democratic leader Dan Blue Jr. Batch’s legislative priorities have included advocating for more funding for public schools, affordable health care, child welfare, and public safety.
NC Senate District 17 Republican primary candidates
Sarah Al-Baghdadi
Sarah Al-Baghadi is an Apex resident. There is not much other information publicly available.
Shirley Johnson
There is not much information publicly available about Shirley Johnson.
NC Senate District 17 Libertarian candidate
Patrick Bowersox ran for the state house in 2022 against then-Democratic state Rep. Sydney Batch. In a three-way race, Bowersox earned 2% of the vote. In 2024, Bowersox challenged Batch for the Senate District 17 seat; with no Republican opponent in the race, he earned about 25% of the vote. On his website, Bowersox cites getting government regulations out of the way for small businesses as his main priority.
District 18 (Republican primary only)
This district covers a portion of northern Wake County and Granville County. With one Democrat, two Republicans, and one Libertarian candidate in the race, there will be a Republican primary.
N.C. Senate District 18 Democratic candidate
After serving three terms in the state house, Terence Everitt won the senate District 18 seat by a razor-thin margin against Republican Ashlee Adams in 2024. As a lawmaker, Everitt has advocated for access to reproductive health care, government transparency, public education, and criminal justice reform.
N.C. Senate District 18 Republican primary candidates
Wake Forest resident Chris Stock, an attorney with his own law practice, has worked in the General Assembly and for Republican state senator Brent Jackson. His website cites economic revitalization, public safety, investment in infrastructure and public education, and preserving farmland as priorities.
A member of the Wake County school board who was elected in 2022, Cheryl Caulfield is running an education-focused campaign for the state senate, according to her website. Caulfield says she wants to prioritize spending for classroom needs, advocate for ESL, special education, and gifted students, and address bullying and school violence. Other legislative priorities include advocating for more government transparency, “securing our borders,” limiting property tax increases, supporting veterans, and fighting the “vaping epidemic.”
NC Senate District 18 Libertarian candidate
Brad Hessel, the chair of the Wake County Libertarian Party, ran for the Senate District 18 seat in 2024, earning 3% of the vote. He also ran for the seat in 2018, and for a different state senate seat in 2016. A self-described knowledge management consultant, Hessel wants to lower health care costs, provide students and families more choices when it comes to education, reform elections, and “unshackle economic activity,” according to his website.
N.C. House
District 11 (No primary)
This district covers parts of Raleigh, Cary, and western Wake County. With one Democrat and on Libertarian candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 11 Democratic candidate
Allison Dahle (incumbent)
Allison Dahle has represented District 11 since 2018. In the legislature, Dahle has served as vice chair of the Elections and Ethics Law Committee and prioritized legislation related to elections and voting.
N.C. House District 11 Libertarian primary
A computer science professional who works for Dell Technologies, Cary resident Matthew Kordon is an advocate for government term limits, ranked-choice voting, and independent redistricting. He supports marijuana legalization and environmental preservation according to his website and ran for the District 11 seat in 2024, earning 3% of the vote.
District 21 (No primary)
This district covers parts of Cary and western Wake County. With one Republican and one Democrat in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 21 Democratic candidate
Ya Liu (incumbent)
A faculty member at Duke Law School, Ya Liu was elected to the House in 2022 after serving on the Cary Town Council. Liu has sponsored hundreds of bills in the state house and seen several signed into law, including legislation to keep children together in foster care and a bill supporting child advocacy centers.
N.C. House District 21 Republican candidate
Bryson Johnson
A cybersecurity engineer and owner of Johnson’s Martial Arts, Bryson Johnson’s campaign Facebook page offers few details about what issues he’s focused on, but notes that he is “running for the 86% of Americans who are not far right or left, but the Exhausted Majority.”
District 33 (No primary)
This district covers parts of Garner and southern Wake County. With one Democrat and one Republican in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 33 Democratic candidate
Monika Johnson Hostler (incumbent)
A former Wake County school board member for 11 years, Johnson-Hostler is the executive director of the nonprofit NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault and is running for her second term in the state house. Johnson-Hostler has focused on public education-focused bills in her first term, as well as on legislation aimed at advocating for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.
N.C. House District 33 Republican candidate
Matthew Orr
Garner resident and small business owner Matthew Orr is running to lower taxes, improve public education, and restore integrity in government, according to a post on his Instagram page.
District 34 (No primary)
This district covers parts of North Raleigh and northern Wake County. With one Democrat and one Libertarian candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 34 Democratic candidate
Tim Longest (incumbent)
Attorney Tim Longest is running for his third term in the state house and has focused on environmental protection, tenants’ rights, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence.
N.C. House District Libertarian candidate
Ed George
A biotech industry consultant, Ed George ran for the District 34 seat in 2024, earning 25 percent of the vote in a two-way race against Longest. At the time, he wrote in his INDY candidate questionnaire that his priorities included removing government involvement in health care, expanding families’ choices for schools, and eliminating fees and regulations for small business owners.
District 35 (Republican primary only)
This district covers parts of northeastern Wake County. With one Democrat and two Republicans in the race, there will be a Republican primary. As a swing district and one of just two House districts in the county currently represented by a Republican, the Democratic Party will be aiming to flip the district come November.
N.C. House District 35 Democratic candidate
Evonne Hopkins, a family law attorney who operates the Raleigh Law Center in North Raleigh, ran for the District 35 seat in 2024 and narrowly lost to current Rep. Mike Schietzelt. On her website, Hopkins cites health care, public education, environmental conservation, public safety, infrastructure, and addressing the cost of living as legislative priorities.
N.C. House District 35 Republican primary candidates
Michele Joyner-Dinwiddie
Wake Forest resident Michele Joyner-Dinwiddie is an educator and trainer who currently works as a math teacher at Wake County Public Schools, according to her LinkedIn page. Joyner-Dinwiddie is a member of NC Educators on the Ballot, a group of educators who have organized to challenge incumbent lawmakers across the state in this year’s election cycle.
Mike Schietzelt (incumbent)
Mike Schietzelt is serving in his first term in the state house. On his campaign website, he cites lowering the cost of living, prioritizing public safety, strengthening public education, and infrastructure and economic growth as priorities this election cycle.
District 36 (No primary)
This district is located in western Wake County, covering parts of Apex, Cary, and Holly Springs. With one Democrat and one Republican in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 36 Democratic candidate
Julie von Haefen (incumbent)
A lawyer, former PTA president at the school, county and state levels, and a current PTA member in Wake County Public Schools, Julie von Haefen is running for her fifth term in the state house. As a lawmaker, von Haefen has focused on public education and has advocated to increase K-12 education funding, improve school safety, and expand access to early childhood education.
N.C. House District 36 Republican candidate
Cary resident Mary Insprucker ran unsuccessfully for the Cary town council’s District C seat in 2022. Her priorities as a state legislative candidate include focusing on the cost of living, homeowner rights, and public education, according to her website.
District 37 (Democratic primary only)
This swing district is located in southern Wake County and covers parts of Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Garner. With one Republican and three Democrats in the race, there will be a Democratic primary, and Democrats will be hoping to reclaim the seat in the fall.
N.C. House District 37 Democratic primary candidates
Marcus Gadson
A professor at UNC Law School and Fuquay-Varina resident, Marcus Gadson said in an Instagram post announcing his candidacy that his campaign will focus on affordability, opportunity, and accountability.
An activist with the Wake County Democratic Party, Fuquay-Varina resident Winn Decker is a public policy expert whose work at the Hunt Institute focused on strengthening public schools, expanding access to higher education and workforce preparation. Currently employed at a company that provides software to streamline the college application process, Decker’s campaign is focused on affordability, strong schools, and thriving communities, according to his website.
A graduate of NC State and Wake County Public Schools, Ralph Clements has worked to improve computer systems for better patient care for hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. On his website, Clements says he is running “to provide experienced leadership, address real issues, and move away from divisive politics.”
N.C. House District 37 Republican candidate
Erin Pare (incumbent)
Running for her fourth term in the state house, Erin Pare won this swing district with 52% of the vote in 2024 against Safiyah Jackson, now a Democratic Wake County commissioner. In the state house, Pare has chaired the health committee, supported private school vouchers, and sponsored legislation to change how Wake County commissioners are elected from at-large to by district.
District 38 (Democratic primary only)
This Wake County district covers Southeast Raleigh. With only two Democrats in the race for this seat, a Democratic primary will effectively determine who will represent the district through 2028.
N.C. House District 38 Democratic primary candidates
Abe Jones (incumbent)
A Wake County Public Schools and Harvard graduate as well as a former superior court judge and Wake County commissioner, Abe Jones is running for a fourth term in the state house. In the legislature, Jones has prioritized affordable housing, vocational education, and criminal justice reform.
Collin Fearns is a Raleigh native who wants to ensure progress and equality for all communities in Raleigh and North Carolina, according to his campaign website. Fearns lists public education, increasing the housing supply and improving affordability, criminal justice reform, and transparency in government as his campaign priorities.
District 39 (No primary)
This Wake County district covers northeast Raleigh. With one Democrat, one Republican, and one Libertarian in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 39 Democratic candidate
A dean at Wake Tech and the former mayor of Knightdale, James Roberson is running for his fourth term in the state house (Roberson was originally appointed to the house by Gov. Cooper in 2021 following Darren Jackson’s election to the state court of appeals). In the legislature, Roberson has served on the appropriations, appropriations-agriculture, natural and economic resources, education-community colleges, insurance, local government, pension and retirements, and transportation committees. He has focused on higher education and workforce training.
N.C. House District 39 Republican candidate
Jorge Cordova
A flooring installation professional who has run unsuccessfully for Wendell’s town board of commissioners, most recently this fall, Jorge Cordova does not appear to have a campaign website for the state house seat yet. But on his candidate Facebook page, he listed priorities including managing growth responsibly, improving traffic safety, and advocating for stronger school planning to keep up with growth as priorities for his local campaign.
N.C. House District 39 Libertarian candidate
Wayne Cockrell
A retired automation engineer according to his LinkedIn page, there is not much other public information available about Wayne Cockrell.
District 40 (No primary)
This Wake County district primarily covers North Raleigh. With one Democrat and one Libertarian candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 40 Democratic candidate
Attorney Phil Rubin was appointed in January following the death of the district’s longtime Rep. Joe John. The former federal prosecutor lists fully funding public schools, building the economy, gun safety, and protecting democracy as his legislative priorities.
NC House District 40 Libertarian candidate
Lucas Everett Jones
Lucas Jones is a student at Wake Tech who’s studying video game design and development, according to his LinkedIn profile. There’s not much more information about Jones that’s publicly available.
District 41 (No primary)
This district covers Morrisville and parts of western Wake County. With one Democrat and one Republican in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 41 Democratic candidate
A former Wake County commissioner, Maria Cervania is running for her third term in the state house. On her website, Cervania lists access to affordable health care, fully funding and supporting public education, protecting the environment and balanced growth as her legislative priorities.
N.C. House District 41 Republican candidate
Bruce Forster
Cary resident Bruce Forster is the owner of a windows and siding company according to his LinkedIn profile. Forster ran for the District 41 seat in 2022, earning 33% of the vote in a three-way race.
District 49 (No primary)
This district covers central and west Raleigh and parts of Cary. With one Republican and one Democrat in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 49 Democratic candidate
A professional mediator, Cynthia Ball is running for her sixth term in the state house where she has served as freshman Democratic chair, Democratic whip, Democratic conference chair, and deputy leader of the house Democrats. As a legislator, Ball has focused on public education, sponsoring bills to improve funding and recruit more teachers, as well as legislation to protect voting rights and improve mental health and health care services.
N.C. House District 49 Republican candidate
Daran Thomas
There is little information publicly available about Daran Thomas.
District 66 (No primary)
This district is located in northeastern Wake County. Democratic incumbent Sarah Crawford is the only candidate in the race, meaning she’s a lock-in to represent the district through 2028.
N.C. House District 66 Democratic candidate
Sarah Crawford (incumbent)
Sarah Crawford is the CEO of the Tammy Lynn Center for Developmental Disabilities and is running for her third term in the house. She also served for one term in the state senate. During her time in the legislature, Crawford has sponsored bills related to adult developmental and vocational rehabilitation programs and making child advocacy centers eligible to receive state funds. She has also focused on reproductive health care and abortion access.
N.C. Senate
District 20 (No primary)
This district includes Chatham County and the southern portion of Durham County. Only one Democrat filed for this seat, so there will be no primary.
N.C. Senate District 20 Democratic candidate
Natalie Murdock (incumbent)
Natalie Murdock will run unopposed in her bid for a fourth term in the house. Murdock has a variety of experience in government and politics, including roles in the local democratic party, communications, transportation, agriculture, environmental affairs and economic development. She has sponsored bills aimed at supporting families’ economic mobility, reproductive and health care, local infrastructure and culture projects, and environmental justice.
District 22 (Democratic primary only)
This district includes much of Durham County, except for parts of south Durham. The only competitive primary for a state legislative seat in Durham, it features an intriguing match-up between one-term incumbent Sophia Chitlik and former Durham city council member DeDreana Freeman. Though one Republican has filed, in this solidly blue district, the March primary will effectively decide who wins the seat.
N.C. Senate District 22 Democratic primary candidates
Sophia Chitlik (incumbent)
Chitlik is seeking a second term after unseating longtime state Sen. Mike Woodard in 2023. She previously worked in education nonprofits and has founded several organizations, including a wellness company and a consulting firm. She worked in former President Barack Obama’s campaign and labor department. As a legislator, Chitlik has focused on health care, reproductive care, and supporting parents and children.
Freeman was first elected to the Durham City Council in 2017 and was reelected with 70% of the vote in 2021 (she ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2023). Last month, she lost a tight race against Matt Kopac. Freeman has lived in Durham since the mid-2000s and has worked for nearly a decade at the East Durham Children’s Initiative. As a city council member, Freeman advocated for affordable housing, racial equity and community engagement.
N.C. Senate District 22 Republican candidate
Lakeshia Alston
Lakeshia Alston filed to run as a Republican and doesn’t appear to have a campaign website.
N.C. House
District 2 (No primary)
This district covers parts of northern Durham County and a large portion of Person County. With one Democrat in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 2 Democratic candidate
Ray Jeffers (incumbent)
Ray Jeffers won’t face competition on his way to a third term in the House. The farmer and nonprofit administrator represents Person County and northern Durham. He has sponsored bills to support farmers, workforce housing and local control of zoning decisions.
District 29 (No primary)
This district covers southwestern Durham. With one Democratic candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 29 Democratic candidate
Vernetta Alston (incumbent)
Alston, whose district includes the southwest portion of Durham County, will be unopposed in her bid for a fourth term. An attorney who previously worked in death penalty litigation and served on the Durham City Council, Alston has focused on housing access, criminal justice debt reform, and support for children and families.
District 30 (No primary)
This district covers northern and central Durham. With one Democrat and one Libertarian in the race, there will be no primary,
N.C. House District 30 Democratic candidate
Marcia Morey (incumbent)
Marcia Morey, a retired district court judge and former assistant district attorney, was appointed to the state house by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2017 to fill a vacancy. In the legislature, she has served on various appropriations, education, and judiciary committees, as well as committees focused on transportation and families, children and aging policy. Morey is running for her fifth term.
N.C. House District 30 Libertarian candidate
Ray Ubinger
Ray Ubinger has run for state senate seats in Durham districts in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
District 31 (No primary)
This district covers eastern and central Durham. With one Democratic candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 31 Democratic candidate
Zack Hawkins is running for his fifth term in the state house. On his website, he lists health care and the economy, alleviating poverty, education, and improving transportation and infrastructure as legislative priorities. Hawkins has served on appropriations, energy, and transportation committees during his time in the legislature.
N.C. Senate
District 23 (No primary)
This district includes Caswell, Orange, and Person counties. With one Democrat in the race, there will be no primary, but voters can expect to see a 2024 rematch in November between incumbent Graig Meyer and Republican challenger Laura Pichardo.
N.C. Senate District 23 Democratic candidate
Graig Meyer was elected in 2013 to the state house, where he served four terms. He was elected to the senate in 2022 and is seeking a third term. With a background in social work, Meyer has focused on education and health care as a legislator and has also championed marijuana legalization as a way to address racial inequity.
N.C. Senate District 23 Republican candidate
Laura Pichardo is a first-generation American who works for Hanesbrands and serves as treasurer for Caswell County Republicans. Her platform focuses on supporting health care and education access in rural areas and promoting the First and Second Amendments.
N.C. House
District 50 (Democratic primary only)
This district includes Orange and Caswell counties. Three Democratic candidates filed in the race for this seat, so the winner of the March Democratic Primary will effectively decide the seat.
N.C. House District 50 Democratic primary candidates
Renee Price was elected to the state house in 2022 and is seeking a third term. Before she joined the house, Price served on the Orange County Board of Commissioners for 10 years and worked as an urban planner. In the legislature, she’s focused on education, local governance and voting rights.
Mary Lucas, a vice president at Transitions LifeCare, a nonprofit hospice and palliative care organization, currently serves on the Orange County Advisory Board on Aging and the Orange County Animal Services Advisory Board. She’s the West Hillsborough Precinct Chair for the Orange County Democratic Party. Previously, Lucas was a member of the City of Raleigh’s human relations and community engagement boards, among other roles. She cites expanding health care, investing in public schools, and improving access for rural residents as her campaign’s priorities.
Brandall Redd
Brandall Redd doesn’t appear to have a campaign website and little information is publicly available.
District 56 (No primary)
This district is located in Orange County and includes Carrboro and parts of Chapel Hill. With one Democrat and one Libertarian candidate in the race, there will be no primary.
N.C. House District 56 Democratic candidate
Allen Buansi (incumbent)
Allen Buansi is seeking a third term in the house. He is a civil rights attorney and former town council member in Chapel Hill, where he helped establish the town’s first Criminal Justice Debt Program. In the house, he has been an advocate for public schools and the environment; he was a primary sponsor on the bill that created the new Venus flytrap license plate.
N.C. House District 56 Libertarian candidate
Matthew Clements
Matthew Clements, who is active in the state’s Libertarian Party, is the Orange County Libertarian Party Chair. He previously ran unsuccessfully for state House in 2018 and the Carrboro Town Council in 2019. According to his campaign Facebook page, his platform includes “ending certificate of need laws, abolishing the ABC system, and protecting and defending the state constitution of North Carolina.”
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