The Ballot Brief
2026 U.S. House

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District — 2026 Candidates

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U.S. House · NC-3
Primary: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 General: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

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2026 candidates we're tracking in NC-3

Greg Murphy

Greg Murphy

RepublicanIncumbent

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Improve the economy and secure the border
  • Make healthcare more affordable
  • Support veterans and farmers
About Greg Murphy

Murphy is a physician who runs a private medical practice with more than 50 employees and serves on the faculty of the ECU School of Medicine, per the campaign site. He is a Davidson College and UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine graduate who has done medical mission work in Haiti, India and Africa, per the campaign site.

Raymond Smith

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Quality, Affordable Healthcare
  • Lower Costs for Working Families
  • Strong Public Schools & Teacher Pay
About Raymond Smith

Smith is a decorated U.S. Army combat veteran, educator and former transportation planner who served as an at-large school board member and two-term state legislator, per the campaign site. He was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, per the campaign site.

Daniel Cavender

Libertarian

Daniel Cavender is a fire-protection equipment technician and Marine Corps veteran, per press coverage of the race. No campaign website is listed in Daniel Cavender's FEC committee filing, and none was found as of October 15, 2026.

About this race

North Carolina's 3rd Congressional District elects one member of the U.S. House of Representatives to a two-year term. Every House seat in the country is on the ballot in 2026. The North Carolina primary is Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (runoff Tuesday, May 12, 2026 if needed), and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

North Carolina primary details →  ·  North Carolina voter guide →