Paula S. Dance
Democratic
Paula S. Dance has served as Pitt County Sheriff since 2018 and was the first African American woman elected sheriff in North Carolina, per the Pitt County Sheriff's Office. She joined the office in 1994, rose through the ranks to major before her election, and holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Mount Olive. She is seeking a third term. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Paula S. Dance.