Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period
North Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon , Friday, Dec. 15, and if the previous two weeks are any indication, there won’t likely be a lot of contested races in Western North Carolina.
First-term Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) has filed for reelection, as has Hayesville Republican Christian Reagan. A Buncombe County legislator, Democrat Caleb Rudow, announced his intent to run two weeks ago, but hasn’t yet filed.
Incumbent District 43 judges Justin Greene (D-Swain), Monica Hayes Leslie (D-Haywood) and Kaleb Wingate (R-Haywood) have filed to retain their seats and are currently unopposed. Virginia Hornsby (R-Macon) has also filed and will face Jackson County Republican Andy Buckner in the Primary Election.
Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon) and Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) both filed for their seats, but right now only Hise has an opponent, Avery County Democrat Frank Hughes III.
Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) is in for House District 118 and will face Democrat Evelyn Davidson of Madison County.
In District 119, Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) remains completely unopposed.
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House Majority Whip Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) has filed for his District 120 House seat, as has Andrews Democrat Nancy Curtis.
The only candidates to file for the two available seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners are incumbent Republicans — Chair Kevin Ensley and Vice Chair Brandon Rogers. Both filed shortly after the filing period opened and remain unopposed.
Another pair of Republicans, Jenny Lynn Hooper and Michael Jennings, have filed for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Jennings is competing for the seat held by Democrat Mark Jones, while Hooper will face Republican Tom Stribling in the Primary Election — if Stribling files.
Clint Irons, a Republican, and Wes Jamison, an independent, have both filed for seats on the Jackson County Board of Education in District 3. Rainy Brake, also a Republican, has filed in District 1.
In Macon County, Republican Barry Breeden filed for the County Commission District 3 seat currently held by fellow Republican Paul Higdon, who also filed. Josh Young, also a Republican, has filed in District 2.
Swain County Republican Eric Watson has filed for a seat on the Swain County Commission, as has Tanner Lawson, another Republican.
Candidate filing continues through noon on Dec. 15. The 2024 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, March 5. The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 Primary Election is Friday, Feb. 9.
For more information, visit ncsbe.gov.
