The Ballot Brief
Onslow County, North Carolina

Onslow County Board of Commissioners

See where Foster, Cantrell, Bennett, Cooper and Leandre stand on housing, growth and jobs. Names follow official Onslow County election filings.

About this race

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.

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. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Tim Foster, Royce Bennett.

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

North Carolina › Onslow County › Onslow County Board of Commissioners

Tim Foster

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Tim Foster serves as chairman of the Onslow County Board of Commissioners, per Onslow County government. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Whitney Cantrell

Republican

Biography

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 was found as of September 8, 2026.

Royce Bennett

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Royce Bennett is a sitting Onslow County commissioner, per the Board of Commissioners' roster. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Rebecca Cooper

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • 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
Biography

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.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Michel Leandre, Jr.

Democratic

Biography

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 was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Michel Leandre, Jr.

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Questions about this race

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

5 candidates are tracked for Onslow County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Tim Foster, Whitney Cantrell, Royce Bennett, Rebecca Cooper and Michel Leandre, Jr.. Candidate information follows official Onslow County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on housing, growth and jobs.

When is the Onslow 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 Onslow 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 Onslow 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 Onslow County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Onslow County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Onslow County Clerk of Superior CourtOnslow County SheriffOnslow Soil and Water Conservation District SupervisorSee all 14 Onslow County races
Candidate profiles
Tim Foster, full profileWhitney Cantrell, full profileRoyce Bennett, full profileRebecca Cooper, full profileMichel Leandre, Jr., full profileOfficial North Carolina election office