The Ballot Brief
Lincoln County, North Carolina

Lincoln County Board of Commissioners

Cesena and Carpenter were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Lincoln 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

Two candidates for two at-large seats; incumbent Vice-Chair Bud Cesena is running again, while the sitting board chair, Jamie Lineberger, is not on the November 2026 ballot, per the county's official website and the NCSBE certified candidate list.

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. The sitting officeholder, Bud Cesena, is on the ballot.

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 › Lincoln County › Lincoln County Board of Commissioners

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
Lincoln 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.

Lincoln County Board of Commissioners
No report found yet

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

Bud Cesena

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Bud Cesena serves as Vice-Chair of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, per the board's official roster; his current term expires December 2026. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

David M. Carpenter

Republican

Biography

David M. Carpenter, of Lincolnton, is a candidate for the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners, per the Lincoln Times-News. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Next on the ballotLincoln County Board of Education, At-Large

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

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

2 candidates were tracked for Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bud Cesena and David M. Carpenter. Candidate information follows official Lincoln County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County Board of Commissioners 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 Lincoln County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Lincoln County ballot

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

Also on the November 3 ballot
Lincoln County Board of Education, District 2Lincoln County Board of Education, District 5Lincoln County Clerk of Superior CourtSee all 12 Lincoln County races
Candidate profiles
Bud Cesena, full profileDavid M. Carpenter, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office