Candidate filing continues until Dec. 20
With the first week of election filing in the books, voters are starting to see what their Primary Election ballots will look like when they head to the polls on March 3.
The Democratic Presidential Preference contest has drawn by far the most candidates to date, including Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Obama-era Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, former Maryland Congressman John Delaney, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, New York businessman Tom Steyer, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and author Marianne Williamson.
President Donald Trump is the only Republican to have filed thus far, but several other parties will also be represented on the presidential primary ballot, including one from the Green Party, two from the Constitution Party, and 16 Libertarians from 15 different states.
In Western North Carolina’s newly-redrawn 11th Congressional District, only Pisgah Forest Democrat Steve Woodsmall and Franklin Green Party member Tamara Zwinak have filed to run, but a number of other Democrats — Gina Collias, Moe Davis and Michael O’Shea — have declared their intent. The 2018 Democratic nominee, Phillip Price, still hasn’t divulged his intent. Four-term incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Meadows hasn’t yet filed, either.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, D-Rocky Mount, filed as expected last week, and currently has two potential Republican opponents, N.C. Rep. Holly Grange, of Wilmington, and Lt. Gov. Dan Forest.
Five Dems have filed to replace Forest, including Asheville Sen. Terry Van Duyn. Five Republicans have also filed.
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Although there have been rumors that incumbent U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis may face a Republican primary challenger, none has yet filed. Four Dems, however, already have — Steve Swenson, Cal Cunningham, Atil Goel and Erica Smith.
Candidates from both major parties have also filed for other council of state offices including attorney general, auditor, agriculture commissioner, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and treasurer. The same goes for state Supreme Court justice seats, including that of chief justice, as well as a number of court of appeals seats.
The N.C. Senate District 50 seat, which will be vacated by retiring longtime Franklin Republican Jim Davis, is being sought by two Republicans — incumbent District 120 Rep. Kevin Corbin of Franklin, and Highlands physician Sarah Conway. No Dem has yet filed for the contest.
Two Macon County Commission seats are up for grabs this year — a District 2 seat currently held by Republican Karl Gillespie and District 3 seat held by Republican Paul Higdon.
Gillespie will not seek re-election on the county board, since he’s signed up to run for the district’s state representative. Terry Bradley and Don Willis Jr. have both signed up to run for the District 2 seat on the county board.
Higdon nor any challengers have signed up as of Tuesday afternoon for the District 3 seat.
Two Macon County lawyers have also thrown their hats into the ring for the 30th District Court Judgeship — Justin Greene has signed up on the Democrat ticket while Rich Cassidy has signed up to run as a Republican. The Republicans are joined in that race by Hayesville attorney Mitch Brewer and Haywood County attorneys Jim Moore and Kaleb Wingate.
The Swain County Commission also has two seats up for re-election this year.
Commissioner seats are not divided by districts — candidates run at large and the top vote-getters are elected to four-year terms.
Incumbent Democrat commissioner Roger Parsons has signed up to run for a second term on the board while incumbent Republican Commissioner Kenneth Parton has yet to file his paperwork as of Tuesday afternoon.
The only newcomer to sign up so far has been Republican H. Robert Lowe.
Jackson County does not yet have any contested races on the horizon for 2020. There are two seats open on the county commission, currently held by Ron Mau and Mickey Luker. Mau will not run for re-election and will instead face Mike Clampitt in the Republican primary for N.C. House District 119. Current District 119 Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, does not yet have primary opposition.
Luker has not responded to messages asking about his intentions but is seen as unlikely to seek re-election due to widespread criticism stemming from his absence at county meetings in recent months.
On Dec. 5, Cashiers Republican Mark Letson filed to run for the commission seat now held by Luker. Democrat Brad Stillwell signed up to run for Mau’s seat during the first week of filing, but neither had a challenger as of press time.
Two seats are open on the Jackson County School Board, and so far incumbent Wesley Jamison is the only person to file. The seat currently held by Elizabeth Cooper is up for election as well. The office of Soil and Water Conservation District Officer will be on the 2020 ballot as well, but filing for that contest doesn’t start until June.
In Haywood County’s Rep. Michele Presnell announced Dec. 2 that she wouldn’t be running for reelection to her seat, but Haywood County Commissioner said he would. He’s yet to see a Republican challenger or a Democrat file for the race.
Pless is in the middle of his first term on the commission, and if he wins, someone will likely be appointed to fill his seat, however two other seats are up for election this year — that of Chairman Kevin Ensley, and Brandon Rogers.
They’ve both filed for re-election, and are joined by two other Republicans, Jennifer Best and Terry Ramey. No Democrats have yet filed for the Haywood County Commission.
Candidates still have until 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, to file for office. For more information, contact your local county board of elections office, or visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections at www.ncsbe.gov.
