Filing complete, Local elections heat up
The 2026 Primary Election on March 3 in Davidson County is shaping up to have several contested races, including the county commissioners, Davidson County Sheriff, NC Senate and NC House representatives.
Filing for the 2026 Primary Election was from Dec. 1 to Dec. 19. During the primary election, citizens vote for candidates in their registered party. Voters registered as “unaffiliated” may choose which party’s primary they wish to participate in.
Fourteen people filed for the Davidson County Board of Commissioners. Only four people from each respective party will move forward to the General Election on Nov. 3.
Republican incumbents Karen Watford, Matt Mizell and Steve Shell have filed for re-election, but Commissioner Chris Elliott announced last month he was not running again.
The remaining Republican candidates are Vic Jones (Lexington); Dexter M. Short (Lexington); Steve Shook (Lexington); Tim S. Bryan (Lexington); Dwight D. Cornelison (Lexington); Robbie Beasley (Thomasville); Shirley Algiere Byerly (Thomasville); Dana "Mike” Loomis (Lexington) and Tony Downs (Thomasville).
Democratic candidates running in the primary for Davidson County Commissioners are Tonya A. Lanier (Lexington) and Andrea N. Tate (Lexington).
In races with only one available seat, only one person from each party will move forward to the general election.
Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons is facing Elizabeth Clodfelter (Kernersville) in the Republican primary. No one filed for the Democratic primary.
In the race for NC State Senate District 30, incumbent Steve Jarvis is facing returning candidate Eddie Gallimore (Thomasville) in the Republican primary. Pamela D. McAfee (Lexington) was the only person to file in the Democratic primary for NC State Senate District 30.
Incumbent Sam Watford is facing Joseph Byrne (Thomasville) in the Republican primary for NC House of Representative District 80. JacQuez Johnson (Thomasville) is the only candidate running in the Democratic primary.
In the race for NC House of Representative, incumbent Larry Potts is facing Pamela Zanni (Lexington) in the Republican primary. Dylan Tucker (Lexington) is running unopposed in the Democratic primary for this seat.
Four Democratic candidates, Keith Davenport (Lexington); Cyril Jefferson (High Point); Beau Blair (Salisbury) and Alysa Kassay (Greensboro) are running against Republican incumbent Addison McDowell for the U.S. House of Representative District 6.
Rob Taylor is running unopposed in the Republican primary for District Attorney District 33. Long-time District Attorney Garry Frank announced his retirement earlier this year.
There is a three-way race in the Republican primary for Davidson County Clerk of Superior Court. Incumbent Sandie Tysinger is facing Christopher R. Harmon (High Point) and Susan Shell (Lexington).
There is only one contested race for N.C. District Court Judge Republican primary. Incumbent David S. Doherty will face Jim Hedrick (Lexington) for Seat 4 for Davidson County.
Incumbent Mary F. Covington is running unopposed for Seat 1. Incumbent Jon W. Myers is running unopposed for Seat 2 and incumbent Carlos E. Jane' is running unopposed for seat.
Incumbent Michael Horne is running unopposed for the Davidson County Register of Deeds.
The primary election is on March 3 with early voting from Feb. 12 to Feb. 28. The 2026 General Election is on Nov. 3.
