Who is running in Guilford County, North Carolina in 2026
- Sheriff
- Danny Rogers and Phil Byrd
- County Commissioner, At-Large
- Greg Drumwright and Mike Perdue
- County Commissioner, District 2
- Scott A. Jones and Alan Perdue
- County Commissioner, District 3
- Derek Mobley, Pat Tillman and Jeanine Couto
- Board of Education, District 4
- Ebony Burnett and Tracy Gaskins
- Board of Education, District 6
- Khem D. Irby and Maritza Gomez
- U.S. Senator
- Roy Cooper, Michael Whatley, Shannon W. Bray and Michael Dublin
- N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice, Seat 1
- Anita Earls and Sarah Stevens
- N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 1
- John S. Arrowood and Michael C. Byrne
- N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 2
- Tobias (Toby) Hampson and George Cooper Bell
- N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 3
- Christine Marie Walczyk and Craig Collins
- U.S. Representative, District 5
- Chuck Hubbard, Virginia Foxx and Robert B. Luffman
- U.S. Representative, District 6
- Cyril Jefferson and Addison McDowell
- U.S. Representative, District 9
- Richard N. Ojeda II and Richard Hudson
- N.C. Senate, District 26
- Steve Luking and Sam Page
- N.C. House, District 59
- Elma Hairston and Alan Branson
- N.C. House, District 60
- Amanda Cook and Joseph Perrotta
- N.C. House, District 62
- John M. Blust and Shelly Headen
Guilford County
County races in North Carolina are partisan. Three of the commission's contested seats are on the ballot: an open at-large seat (Kay Cashion is retiring) and the two Republican-held district seats. Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor (five candidates for two seats) is also on the ballot and not covered here. Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Summerfield and Oak Ridge elect their councils in odd years, so they have no town races this fall; the Guilford part of Archdale votes for its mayor and council (only Ward 4, John A. Glass vs. Laura Heflin, is contested).
Sheriff
Vote for oneA rematch of 2022, when Rogers beat Byrd with about 56% of the vote.
Danny Rogers
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratIn 2019 his office said it would hold people for ICE only on an order signed by a judge, not on detainers signed by ICE staff. His Republican predecessor said Rogers fired "27 and counting" officers before taking office and called it "politically motivated."
Sources: Rhino Times, Rhino Times, Ballotpedia
Phil Byrd
Not enough info RepublicanRunning on keeping deputies from leaving and cutting gun violence, and says deputies work in a "hostile environment" under Rogers. Beat Billy Queen in the March Republican primary. We found no endorsements or record to judge him by.
Sources: WHQR / WFDD, WGHP via Yahoo, Ballotpedia
County Commissioner, At-Large
Vote for oneOpen seat. The Republican nominee from the spring, Tony Jacobelli, is no longer on the ballot; Mike Perdue filed on August 21 as the party's replacement, and we found nothing else about him.
Greg Drumwright
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants higher teacher pay and more county mental health support. In 2020 he organized a march to the polls in Graham that deputies pepper-sprayed; Alamance County then charged him with felonies his lawyers called "retaliation."
Sources: WUNC, Religion News Service
Mike Perdue
Not enough info RepublicanWe found no campaign site, platform or news coverage.
Sources: NC State Board of Elections
County Commissioner, District 2
Vote for oneToss-up: we found nothing for or against either candidate, so the tie goes to the Democrat.
Scott A. Jones
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratUnopposed in the Democratic primary. We found no platform or news coverage.
Sources: Branch
Alan Perdue
Not enough info RepublicanOne of two Republicans on the nine-member board. A fire and emergency management professional; we found no endorsements or votes that would raise or lower our rating.
Sources: Guilford County, Ballotpedia
County Commissioner, District 3
Vote for oneA rematch of 2022, which Tillman won 51.5% to 48.5%. Toss-up on the record we found; the tie goes to the Democrat.
Derek Mobley
Not enough info (best choice in this race) DemocratUnopposed in the Democratic primary. We found no platform or endorsements this year.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Branch
Pat Tillman
Not enough info RepublicanSays he would "call balls and strikes as I see them" on the board. We found no endorsements or votes that would raise or lower our rating.
Sources: Rhino Times, Guilford County
Jeanine Couto
Not enough info GreenWe found no campaign site, platform or news coverage.
Sources: Branch
Unopposed county races
No contestAll Democrats: District Attorney, District 24 (Avery Michelle Crump); Clerk of Superior Court (David Churchill); County Commissioner District 1 (Carlvena Foster) and District 7 (Lisa McMillan).
Judges
Not profiledOne contested local judgeship: District Court 24, Seat 6 (unexpired term), Moshera Mills (Democrat) vs. Erik R. Hamner (Republican). Unopposed: Superior Court 24A Seat 1 (Lisa Y. Johnson-Tonkins) and 24D Seat 1 (William "Bill" Wood); District Court 24 Seat 1 (Marc Ross Tyrey) and Seat 2 (Larry L. Archie). We haven't profiled judges yet.
School board
Guilford County Board of Education races are partisan, so candidates run with party labels. Two of five seats on the ballot are contested. Unopposed: At-Large (Alan Sherouse, Democrat), District 2 (Crissy Pratt, Republican) and District 8 (Deena Hayes-Greene, Democrat). Countywide, voters also decide a quarter-cent sales tax that would mostly go to teacher pay supplements (see Propositions).
Board of Education, District 4
Vote for oneEbony Burnett
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratTracy Gaskins
Compromised ConservativeOn a conservative Christian voter guide questionnaire she agreed with eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and that school choice will push public schools to improve, and opposed exempting library books with literary value from obscenity laws.
Sources: iVoterGuide, Branch
Board of Education, District 6
Vote for oneKhem D. Irby
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratEndorsed by the Guilford County Association of Educators and by the Network for Public Education Action.
Sources: WFDD, NPE Action
Maritza Gomez
Compromised ConservativeLists the NRA among her affiliations, describes herself as "Very Conservative" and supports school choice, arming qualified teachers and abolishing the U.S. Department of Education. Her campaign took $4,250 from the NC Realtors PAC.
Sources: iVoterGuide, Branch
State and federal
Guilford is split among three congressional districts (5, 6 and 9), three state Senate districts and six state House districts. Look up yours on your sample ballot through the state's voter lookup. Statewide races are listed first.
U.S. Senator
Vote for oneRoy Cooper
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratAs governor he signed the bipartisan bill that expanded Medicaid and vetoed the 12-week abortion ban. Endorsed by the largest federal employees' union, the Sierra Club and the veterans' group Common Defense.
Sources: Ballotpedia, AFGE, Common Defense
Michael Whatley
Not good people RepublicanTrump put him in charge of the RNC to focus on election litigation and the 2020 election, then endorsed him for this seat. He says he backs Trump's agenda, including deporting unauthorized immigrants, "100%."
Sources: The Guardian, Wikipedia, Campaign site
Shannon W. Bray
Not enough info LibertarianHolly Springs police arrested him three times in one week in August 2023 on charges including assault on a female, communicating threats, violating a domestic violence protective order and manufacturing marijuana; we found no record of how the cases ended. Runs on digital privacy and limits on federal surveillance.
Sources: CBS 17, WFAE, Campaign site
Michael Dublin
Seems like good people GreenA retired public school teacher and Marine veteran who co-chairs the state Green Party's Black Caucus and refuses corporate donations. Wants a $$25 minimum wage and a Green New Deal for North Carolina, and says "ICE is a scam" that profits private prisons.
Sources: WFAE, The Election Hub, Ballotpedia
N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice, Seat 1
Vote for oneAnita Earls
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWrote the 2022 opinion striking down the voter ID law as racially discriminatory, then dissented when the new majority reversed it in 2023. A state ethics inquiry over her comments on bias in the courts was dismissed in 2024.
Sources: Bolts, Carolina Public Press, Ballotpedia
Sarah Stevens
Compromised RepublicanSays judges shouldn't "create laws from the bench," and voted to override the veto of the 12-week abortion ban. Her campaign took two illegal lobbyist contributions; the elections board called it unintentional after she returned them.
Sources: WFAE, Campaign site
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 1
Vote for oneJohn S. Arrowood
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratHas written more than 650 opinions, including a September 2026 dissent against letting the state auditor appoint local election board members. Endorsed by the state AFL-CIO and Equality NC.
Sources: Victory Fund, News From the States, WFAE
Michael C. Byrne
Compromised RepublicanCalls himself a conservative focused on judicial restraint and constitutional interpretation. Endorsed by the N.C. Police Benevolent Association, the N.C. Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association of Police Organizations.
Sources: WFAE
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 2
Vote for oneTobias (Toby) Hampson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratIn the fight over the 2024 Supreme Court election he dissented against throwing out challenged ballots. Endorsed by the state AFL-CIO and the Sierra Club.
Sources: INDY Week, NC AFL-CIO, Ballotpedia
George Cooper Bell
Not good people RepublicanThe State Bar reprimanded him in 2019 for making a false statement to a court about a client's probation. Names Clarence Thomas as the justice closest to his own views.
Sources: Tennessee Bar Association, WFAE, iVoterGuide
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 3
Vote for oneOpen seat.
Christine Marie Walczyk
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratSays she is running because she is "increasingly concerned about the public's loss of confidence in the court system." Endorsed by the teachers' association and former Chief Justice Cheri Beasley.
Sources: Campaign site, NCAE
Craig Collins
Compromised RepublicanCampaigns on "Conservative judges matter now more than ever." Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and the NC Values Coalition.
Sources: WFAE, Ballotpedia
Constitutional amendments
For or againstWe describe what each amendment does and don't make recommendations.
- Photo ID for voting: The constitution already requires photo ID to vote in person. A vote for extends that to every voter, including people voting absentee by mail. A vote against leaves it as it is.
- Maximum income tax rate of 3.5%: Lowers the highest income tax rate the state can ever charge, on people and corporations, from 7% to 3.5%, starting with the 2027 tax year. Supporters say it keeps taxes low and draws business; opponents, including the League of Women Voters, say it would limit money for schools and disaster relief in hard times.
- Property tax levy limit: Requires limits on how much counties and cities can raise property taxes. The amendment leaves the actual limit and any exceptions for the legislature to set later. Supporters say it stops runaway tax bills; opponents say it takes away local control and could squeeze money for schools, emergency services and parks.
U.S. Representative, District 5
Vote for oneChuck Hubbard
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning to "prioritize our working families and small businesses, support public education" and "expand access to affordable healthcare." Won the Democratic primary in March with about 57%.
Sources: WXII via Yahoo, The Appalachian
Virginia Foxx
Not good people RepublicanHours after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, voted to object to counting Pennsylvania's electoral votes for Joe Biden.
Sources: WUNC, Cardinal & Pine
Robert B. Luffman
Not enough info LibertarianWe found no campaign site or platform.
Sources: Ballotpedia
U.S. Representative, District 6
Vote for oneCyril Jefferson
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratRunning on affordability, opposing "reckless tariffs" and junk fees, wider Medicare drug price negotiation and "safeguarding democracy." Had raised about $157,000 by June to McDowell's $1 million-plus.
Sources: WFAE, Campaign site
U.S. Representative, District 9
Vote for oneRichard N. Ojeda II
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWon a four-way Democratic primary to take on Hudson in a district rated safely Republican. We found little else on the record about his North Carolina campaign.
Sources: PBS NC, The Mountaineer
Richard Hudson
Not good people RepublicanHours after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, voted to object to counting both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's electoral votes for Joe Biden.
Sources: WUNC, Cardinal & Pine
N.C. Senate, District 26
Vote for onePage ousted Senate leader Phil Berger by 23 votes in the March Republican primary.
Steve Luking
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWants to restore corporate taxes to 2016 levels to pay for public schools and teacher raises. Endorsed by Indivisible Guilford County.
Sources: Branch, Ballotpedia, Blue Voter Guide
Sam Page
Not good people RepublicanChaired Donald Trump's 2020 North Carolina campaign and his office has a 287(g) agreement that lets deputies act for ICE in the county jail. Twelve people have died in Rockingham's jail since 2021.
Sources: The Assembly, ACLU of NC, WFMD
N.C. House, District 59
Vote for oneElma Hairston
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratWon the Democratic primary with about 59%. Running on public schools that prepare students for "College, Apprenticeships, and Skilled Trades" and more affordable health care.
Sources: BallotReady, Ballotpedia
Alan Branson
Compromised RepublicanAmericans for Prosperity is campaigning to re-elect him. Voted in July 2025 to override Gov. Josh Stein's veto of HB 318, "The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act."
Sources: Americans for Prosperity, Wikipedia, NC General Assembly
N.C. House, District 60
Vote for oneAmanda Cook
Seems like good people (best choice in this race) DemocratAppointed after Cecil Brockman resigned over felony charges, then won a four-way primary in March. Endorsed by the state Democratic Party's Progressive Caucus; says her first priority is keeping High Point from becoming a city of mostly Title I schools.
Sources: WFAE, Carolina Journal
N.C. House, District 62
Vote for oneThe Democratic Party withdrew its support from Headen in October, but her name stays on the ballot.
John M. Blust
Compromised (best choice in this race) RepublicanVoted in July 2025 to override Gov. Josh Stein's veto of HB 318, "The Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act." Sponsored a 2025 bill letting some properties leave Greensboro's city limits.
Sources: NC General Assembly, NC General Assembly, NC General Assembly
Shelly Headen
Not good people DemocratHer past social media posts called for "an attack on US soil … preferably Alabama, Louisiana … where the stupid people live," and the Democratic Party withdrew its support.
Sources: WUNC, BallotReady
Unopposed state legislative seats
No contestAll Democrats: N.C. Senate District 27 (Michael K. Garrett) and District 28 (Gladys A. Robinson); N.C. House District 57 (Tracy Clark), District 58 (Amos Quick) and District 61 (Pricey Harrison).
Ballot questions
We describe what each measure does and don't make recommendations. The three statewide constitutional amendments are in the statewide section. Bond tax figures are the ballot's own estimates for a home valued at $100,000.
Guilford County sales tax
Propositions- Local sales and use tax: an extra quarter cent (0.25%) on the sales tax, to be used only for classroom teacher salary supplements (70%), fire protection equipment and services (18%), Guilford Technical Community College (8%) and qualifying towns (4%).
Greensboro bonds
Propositions- Firefighting facilities: $15.9 million for fire stations and equipment. About $3.80 a year.
- Parks and recreation: $11.5 million for parks and recreation facilities. About $2.80 a year.
- Transportation: $7 million for streets, sidewalks, bridges, bike lanes, greenways, buses and bus shelters. About $1.70 a year.
- Housing: $5 million for housing mainly for low and moderate income residents, including neighborhood revitalization and permanent supportive housing. About $1.20 a year.
- Municipal buildings: $2.1 million for city government, cultural and recreation buildings. About $0.50 a year.
More North Carolina guides
Governor, statewide offices and ballot measures: North Carolina statewide races.
- Wake County: Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Morrisville, Knightdale
- Mecklenburg County: Charlotte, Huntersville, Matthews, Cornelius, Mint Hill, Davidson, Pineville
- Durham County: Durham, Bahama, Rougemont, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh
- Forsyth County: Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Clemmons, Lewisville, Walkertown, Rural Hall
- Buncombe County: Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Woodfin, Montreat, Biltmore Forest