Filing deadline looms for candidates; county commissioner race crowded

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent

A sign outside the CC Board of Elections, pointing the way to the main entrance. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent

As the Friday Dec. 19 deadline looms for candidates to file for the 2026 primaries, the Cleveland County Commissioner race is crowded with seven hopefuls running for two seats, and a board of education race that so far has five republicans one democrat, and an unaffiliated candidate all running for four chairs.

On the state level, the North Carolina Senate race is even more crowded than the local commissioners’ race. Three democrats and five republicans are vying for the highly coveted senate seat. The three standouts in this highly contested political battle are former Democrat Governor Roy Cooper, along with Republicans Michael Whatley and Don Brown. Also in the race, while lesser known, are Democrats Daryl Farrow, Marcus W. Williams, and Republicans Elizabeth A. Temple, Margot Dupre and Thomas Johnson.

U.S. House of Representatives 14 District will see a primary for both democrats and republicans, as Cleveland County native, and Republican incumbent, Tim Moore will face challenger Kate Barr of Davidson, NC. While Brent Caldwell and Lakesha Womack face off against one another in democrat primary.

Democrat Rod Powell is challenging incumbent Republican State Senator Ted Alexander for NC Senate District 44.

The 110 NC House of Representatives will have a republican primary, as newcomer candidate Caroline Eason, of Lawndale, challenges current General Assembly Member, Rep. Kelly Hastings; while Mary Silver is running on the democrat ticket for the 110 District seat.

(Commissioners and Board of Ed. candidates listed below)

Republican Paul Scott is running unopposed for the 111 NC House seat, which he currently represents.

Michael J. Sanders on is the only one running for NC District Court Judge District 39 Seat 01, while Republican Mike Miller has filed to run for District Attorney for District 39.

A plethora of candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the two county commissioner seats up for election in 2026, which include current incumbents Doug Bridges and Deb Hardin. Five other candidates are looking to unseat Hardin and Bridges, which include a crowded race consisting of Josh Biddix, Wayne King, Laura Boggs Tharrington, Billy Scruggs and Denise Martin Wright; all are Republicans.

The CCS Board of Education has four seats up for election, with one democrat and five republicans eyeballing the hot seats. Curtis Martin is running as unaffiliated, also Kristen Callahan's name was on the candidate sign-in filing sheet for school board, but not posted on the official candidate list as of Tuesday evening; it is unclear whether Callahan is running unaffiliated. Democrat Coleman Hunt is the only official democrat running for school board as of Tuesday, while the republican side hosts an array of candidates, including Robert Queen, Shelia Canipe, Danny Blanton, Ronnie Grigg and Aaron Bridges.

Republican Lacey Ingle Ange is the only one to have filed, as of Tuesday evening, for Cleveland County Clerk of Court.

And Republican Sheriff Alan Norman is running again for Cleveland County Sheriff.

The filing deadline for any last-minute candidates is before noon on Friday, Dec 19. 2025. The primaries for any contested races will be held March 3, and early voting begins in mid-February.

For more information, to file, or to ask questions, visit the Cleveland County Board of Elections at 215 Patton Drive, Shelby, or you can call 704-484-4858 or visit the county website at ClevelandCounty.com.

The candidates mentioned in this article were listed on the Board of Elections, as of 5 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025.

Follow The Shelby Independent on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. To contact Chuck about a story idea, send an email or visit the contact page.

Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.