Candidates File on Opening Day for 2026 Primary in Davidson County
The 2026 election season is officially underway, with several candidates filing for federal, state and local offices on the first day of North Carolina’s filing period, according to documents from the Davidson County Board of Elections. Candidate filing remains open through December 19, 2025, at 12:00 noon.
Federal and statewide judicial seats drew early activity. Two Republicans filed for the U.S. Senate—Elizabeth A. Temple of Smithfield and Donald M. “Don” Brown of Waxhaw. The Democratic and Libertarian Senate slots were listed but had no first-day filers.
For the N.C. Supreme Court, incumbent Justice Anita Earls, a Democrat from Durham, filed to seek reelection for Associate Justice Seat 01.
The N.C. Court of Appeals also saw a flurry of filings:
John S. Arrowood, Democrat, filed for Seat 01.
Tobias “Toby” Hampson, Democrat, filed for Seat 02.
Two Democrats filed for Seat 03: James Weldon Whalen and Christine Walczyk, both from Raleigh.
In state legislative races, Rep. Steve Jarvis, a Republican, filed to run again for N.C. Senate District 30.
In N.C. House District 81, Rep. Larry W. Potts, a Lexington Republican, filed for reelection.
The race for District Attorney in District 33 drew one first-day filer: Robert (Rob) S. Taylor III, a Republican from Mocksville.
Davidson County’s Board of Commissioners race saw significant early movement, with five Republicans filing on opening day:
Victor “Vic” Jones, Lexington
Dexter M. Short, Lexington
Steve Shook, Lexington
Tim S. Bryan, Lexington
Dwight D. Cornelison, Lexington
Two Republicans filed for Clerk of Superior Court:
Sandie Tysinger Chappell of Thomasville
Christopher R. Harmon of High Point
No Democratic or Libertarian candidates filed on the first day for the Clerk, Sheriff, Register of Deeds, or several judicial and legislative seats, though those contests remain open until the December 19 deadline.
