The Ballot Brief
Davidson County, North Carolina

Davidson County Board of Commissioners

Cornelison, Beasley, Tate, Short, Mizell and Lanier are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Davidson County election filings.

About this race

Four at-large seats are up; voters may select up to four of six candidates. Republicans Dwight Cornelison, Robbie Beasley, Dexter Short and incumbent Matt Mizell were the top four vote-getters in a 12-candidate March 3 Republican primary, unseating sitting commissioners Karen Watford and Steve Shell, per DavidsonLocal.com. Democrats Andrea Tate and Tonya Lanier had no primary opponents and advance directly to November.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Voters choose 4; the top 4 finishers win seats. The sitting officeholder, Matt Mizell, is on the ballot.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

North Carolina › Davidson County › Davidson County Board of Commissioners

Dwight D. Cornelison

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Opposes county funding for the proposed Southmont sports complex, saying taxpayers should not fund what he calls speculative investments, per DavidsonLocal.com
  • Supports property tax payment discounts and promoting small business, per DavidsonLocal.com
Biography

Dwight Cornelison is a small business owner who ran Cornelison Heat & AC from 1991 to 2004 and a former vocational instructor and program coordinator at Fayetteville Technical Community College from 2003 to 2022, per the campaign site. Per the campaign site, he served on the Thomasville City Council from 1999 to 2007 and holds a degree in management and ethics from John Wesley College.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Robbie Beasley

Republican

Biography

Robbie Beasley says he is running to return the voice of Davidson County government to its citizens, emphasizing integrity and transparency in county operations, per DavidsonLocal.com. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Andrea N. Tate

Democratic

Biography

Andrea N. Tate appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Davidson County Board of Commissioners, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Andrea N. Tate.

Dexter M. Short

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Opposes funding for the proposed Southmont sports complex, per DavidsonLocal.com
  • Prioritize jail needs, employee retention, and removing portable classrooms from schools, per DavidsonLocal.com
Biography

Dexter Short has criticized the current county commission's spending priorities, saying the county should instead prioritize jail needs, employee retention, and removing portable classrooms from schools, per DavidsonLocal.com. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Matt Mizell

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Matt Mizell, the incumbent commissioner seeking re-election, is a lifelong Davidson County resident with deep family roots in the area, per DavidsonLocal.com. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Tonya A. Lanier

Democratic

Biography

Tonya Lanier says she is running because Davidson County government needs new voices and perspectives, per DavidsonLocal.com. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Davidson County Board of Commissioners in 2026?

6 candidates are tracked for Davidson County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Dwight D. Cornelison, Robbie Beasley, Andrea N. Tate, Dexter M. Short, Matt Mizell and Tonya A. Lanier. Candidate information follows official Davidson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Davidson County Board of Commissioners election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Davidson County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Davidson County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Davidson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Davidson County ballot

18 tracked races in Davidson County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Davidson County Clerk of Superior CourtDavidson County Register of DeedsDavidson County SheriffSee all 18 Davidson County races
Candidate profiles
Dwight D. Cornelison, full profileRobbie Beasley, full profileAndrea N. Tate, full profileDexter M. Short, full profileMatt Mizell, full profileTonya A. Lanier, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office