The Ballot Brief
Haywood County, North Carolina

Haywood County Sheriff

Mease and Howell were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Haywood County election filings. Certified results will appear here once the election office certifies the count. North Carolina certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: er.ncsbe.gov.

About this race

Sitting Sheriff Bill Wilke lost the Republican primary to Mark Mease, who faces Democrat Tyler Howell in November, per WLOS and Mountain Xpress.

What this office does

Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.

This race. Every voter in Haywood County votes on this seat.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

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

North Carolina › Haywood County › Haywood County Sheriff

Who won? The official answer comes November 24.

North Carolina makes results final in three steps.
✓
Done · Nov 3
Votes were cast and counted
Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.
2
Happening now · by Nov 13
Haywood County double-checks its count
The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.
3
Next · Nov 24
North Carolina makes it official
The State Board of Elections certifies the result. The winner appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 5, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: North Carolina official results.

Haywood County Sheriff
No report found yet

Reports are checked daily until North Carolina certifies on November 24; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.

Mark E. Mease

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Emphasizes a community-oriented approach and building relationships with local agencies.
Biography

Mark E. Mease is a Cherokee Indian Police Department officer who won over incumbent Sheriff Bill Wilke in the Republican primary, per WLOS.

Tyler J. Howell

Democratic

Biography

Tyler J. Howell is a Waynesville Police Department officer running as the Democratic nominee for Haywood County sheriff, per Mountain Xpress. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Next on the ballotHaywood County Tax Collector

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Haywood County Sheriff in 2026?

2 candidates were tracked for Haywood County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mark E. Mease and Tyler J. Howell. Candidate information follows official Haywood County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Haywood County Sheriff election in North Carolina?

Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Certified results will appear on this page as the election office certifies them. North Carolina certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: https://er.ncsbe.gov/. Voting rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Haywood 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.

Who won the Haywood County Sheriff race?

Not yet reported by the outlets we checked; North Carolina certifies on November 24. We do not call races.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Haywood County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Haywood County ballot

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

Also on the November 3 ballot
Haywood County Board of Education, Bethel DistrictHaywood County Board of Education, Clyde DistrictHaywood County Board of Education, Crabtree-Iron Duff DistrictSee all 20 Haywood County races
Candidate profiles
Mark E. Mease, full profileTyler J. Howell, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office