North Carolina › Gaston County › North Carolina Senate District 43
2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Steve Rutherford and Brad Overcash. Candidate information follows official Gaston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Steve Rutherford (Democratic), Brad Overcash (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Brad Overcash is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (a second primary is held only when no one reaches 30 percent plus one); unaffiliated candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Democratic
Steve Rutherford is a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran and a graduate of South Point High School who earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University, per the Political Candidate Directory. He declared his candidacy for the Senate District 43 seat, which covers part of Gaston County, on December 1, 2025, per his campaign site. His site does not list detailed policy positions.
Campaign site →Republican · Incumbent
Brad Overcash is the Republican candidate for North Carolina Senate District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list.