Ernie Lee (Republican) filed for reelection and no other candidate filed, so he is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot, per the NC State Board of Elections' certified candidate list and the county-by-county filing data in Candidate_Listing_2026.csv, which lists this contest under all four counties of Prosecutorial District 5 including Onslow.
Ernie Lee · Republican▾
Ernie Lee is the sitting district attorney for North Carolina's Fifth Prosecutorial District, covering Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties, per the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in Onslow County in the late 1980s and helped bring a Child Advocacy Center to the community, per OnePlaceOnslow.org. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Ernie Lee.
This is an open seat: Judge Henry Stevens IV did not seek reelection. Robert H. Gilmore, currently a District Court judge in the same district, filed and no other candidate filed, so he is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv (listed under Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson) and the Sampson Independent.
Robert H. Gilmore · Republican▾
Robert H. Gilmore currently serves as a District Court judge for Judicial District 5, which covers Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties, per the Sampson Independent. He is running for the open Superior Court seat after Judge Henry Stevens IV chose not to seek reelection. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Robert H. Gilmore.
Mario White (Democratic) filed and no other candidate filed, so he is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv (listed under Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson) and scratch/nc-results/nominees.json.
Mario White · DemocraticIncumbent▾
Mario White serves as Chief District Court Judge for North Carolina's Judicial District 5, covering Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties, and was appointed to the District Court in 2020, per North Carolina Judicial Branch. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Mario White.
Morgan H. Swinson (Republican) filed and no other candidate filed, so she is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv (listed under Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson) and scratch/nc-results/nominees.json.
Morgan H. Swinson · Republican▾
Morgan H. Swinson serves as a District Court judge for the judicial district covering Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson counties, per WCTI News 12. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Morgan H. Swinson.
This seat became vacant when Judge William B. 'Billy' Sutton Jr. retired. Gov. Josh Stein appointed Johnathon S. Naylor to the vacancy in February 2026. Naylor (Republican) filed and no other candidate filed, so he is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot to serve the remainder of the term, per the Governor's Office and Candidate_Listing_2026.csv (listed under Duplin, Jones, Onslow and Sampson).
Johnathon S. Naylor · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Johnathon S. Naylor was appointed by Gov. Josh Stein in February 2026 to the District Court for Judicial District 5, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge William B. 'Billy' Sutton Jr, per NC Governor's Office. Naylor worked as an attorney at Castle, Peterson & Naylor, P.C. since 2017 and serves as treasurer of the Onslow County Bar Association. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Campbell University and his Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law, per NC Governor's Office. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Johnathon S. Naylor.
Three at-large seats are up in 2026. Six Republicans ran in the March 3, 2026 primary; Tim Foster, Whitney Cantrell and Royce Bennett won the three Republican nominations, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv. They face Democrats Rebecca Cooper and Michel Leandre Jr., who were unopposed for their party's nomination, in the November 3, 2026 general election for the three seats.
Tim Foster · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Tim Foster serves as chairman of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Tim Foster.
Whitney Cantrell · Republican▾
Whitney Cantrell works as an operations manager for Excel Body Works and previously served as an office manager for D&N Auto Body & Painting, per her Branch.vote candidate profile. This is her first run for public office. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Whitney Cantrell.
Royce Bennett · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Royce Bennett currently serves on the Onslow County Board of Commissioners, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Royce Bennett.
Rebecca Cooper · Democratic▾
Rebecca Cooper describes herself as a homeschooling mom of five and the wife of a Marine veteran who is now a police officer, and says she has lived in Onslow County for 25 years, per her campaign site. She holds a BSBA and is pursuing an MBA from East Carolina University.
Priorities: Wants ordinances that hold developers accountable for the long-term impacts of growth · Wants to incentivize healthcare professionals to build careers in Onslow County so residents have to travel less for care, drawing on her experience as a parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes · Wants local wages to better match the actual cost of living for military and civilian families in the county (per the campaign site)
Michel Leandre, Jr. · Democratic▾
Michel Leandre, Jr. appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Onslow County Board of Commissioners, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Michel Leandre, Jr..
Three at-large seats are up in 2026. Six Republicans ran in the March 3, 2026 primary; Doug Davis, Angie Todd and Bill Lanier won the three nominations, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv. No Democrat or other candidate filed, so all three are unopposed on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
Doug Davis · Republican▾
Doug Davis appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Onslow County Board of Education, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Doug Davis.
Angie Todd · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Angie Todd is a current member of the Onslow County Board of Education seeking reelection, per her campaign site, and serves as chair of the North Carolina School Boards Coalition.
Bill Lanier · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Bill Lanier is a current member of the Onslow County Board of Education seeking reelection, per Onslow 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 Bill Lanier.
Cindy P. Casteen (Republican) filed and no other candidate filed, so she is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv.
Cindy P. Casteen · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Cindy P. Casteen is the sitting Onslow County Clerk of Superior Court, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Cindy P. Casteen.
Chris Thomas (Republican) filed and no other candidate filed, so he is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv.
Chris Thomas · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Chris Thomas is the sitting Onslow County Sheriff, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Chris Thomas.
Two of the district's elected seats are up in 2026 (nonpartisan). Four candidates filed: current supervisors Emily Walton and Robert Johnson, and challengers Jacob (JD) Shepard and Carroll Harrod, per Candidate_Listing_2026.csv and the county's official Soil & Water Conservation Board of Supervisors page. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Emily WaltonIncumbent▾
Emily Walton is a current District Supervisor on the Onslow County Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Emily Walton.
Jacob (JD) Shepard▾
Jacob (JD) Shepard appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Onslow Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Jacob (JD) Shepard.
Robert JohnsonIncumbent▾
Robert Johnson is a current District Supervisor on the Onslow County Soil and Water Conservation Board of Supervisors, per Onslow County government. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Robert Johnson.
Carroll Harrod▾
Carroll Harrod appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Onslow Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Carroll Harrod.
Andi Morrow (Democratic), Michael Anthony Lazzara (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Michael Anthony Lazzara 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.
Andi Morrow · Democratic▾
Andi Morrow is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina Senate District 6 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Michael Anthony Lazzara · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Michael Anthony Lazzara represents Onslow County in the North Carolina Senate, per his official legislative biography. No occupation or campaign site was found through official or verified sources. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Wyatt Gable (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3 ballot; Wyatt Gable 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.
Wyatt Gable · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Wyatt Gable represents Onslow County in the North Carolina House, per his official legislative biography. No occupation or working campaign site was found through official or verified sources. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Phillip Shepard (Republican), Christopher Schulte (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Phillip Shepard 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.
Phillip Shepard · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Phillip Shepard is retired from civil service and serves as a minister, per his official legislative biography. He represents Onslow County and is serving his 8th term in the North Carolina House. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Christopher Schulte · Democratic▾
Christopher Schulte is a psychology instructor who taught at Coastal Carolina Community College from 2008 to February 2026, per his Vote Smart candidate biography. He holds a master's degree in psychology from the University of North Texas and a bachelor's degree in psychology from Wright State University, per the same source. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Carson Smith (Republican), Jim Harris (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Carson Smith 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.
Carson Smith · RepublicanIncumbent▾
Carson Smith is a retired Pender County sheriff, per his official legislative biography. He represents Onslow and Pender counties and is serving his 4th term in the North Carolina House. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 7, 2026.
Jim Harris · Democratic▾
Jim Harris is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina House District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list.
Priorities: Affordability · Healthcare access and quality · Strengthening public education (per the campaign site)
These race previews show candidates we’re tracking now. A ZIP code shows your statewide and congressional races; a street address adds county and city contests. Local races are address-specific. This guide previews tracked contests, while the lookup tool narrows the list to a voter’s exact address. Tap any name to see the race, full candidate profiles, and everything else on your exact ballot. North Carolina nominees were set by the March 3 primary; a candidate clearing 30 percent plus one avoids a second primary, and unopposed nominees still print on the November 3 ballot, per the State Board of Elections.
