Brunswick County Board of Education District 5

Steve Gainey is the incumbent District 5 board member and was elected chair of the Brunswick County Board of Education at its Dec. 2, 2025 meeting, per Brunswick County Schools. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Steve Gainey.

Brian Rupp, of Winnabow, is a parent of a Brunswick County Schools sophomore, per a letter to the editor he wrote that was published by the Brunswick County Democratic Party. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brian Rupp.

2026 priorities

• Have the school board provide teachers guidance on approved classroom supplies rather than restrict classroom fundraising, per candidate letter to the editor, Brunswick County Democratic Party
• Expand opportunities for homeschooled students to take part in public school extracurricular activities, per candidate letter to the editor, Brunswick County Democratic Party