Incumbent ousted in Jackson Republican chair race
Mark Letson, the incumbent Jackson County Commission Chair who was the only commissioner to vote against leaving the Fontana Regional Library system, will not be returning to that role come November. Taxes were also an issue, but his library vote likely cost him as well.
High taxes, social turmoil frame Jackson chair race
As Jackson County heads toward the March 3 primary election, voters are being asked to assess a governing record shaped by rising costs, cultural conflict, a steady expansion of county government and mounting public concern.
Over the last four budget cycles, Jackson County’s general fund has grown from $71.7 million in fiscal year 2021–22 to $106.9 million in the adopted 2025–26 budget — an increase of about 49%.
Western North Carolina braces for 2026 races
Western North Carolina’s next election cycle is already shaping up amid a volatile mix of entrenched incumbents, disaster recovery fallout and deepening national divides, with competitive races stretching from the U.S. Senate on down to county-level offices.
While marquee statewide contests appear to be headed toward familiar General Election matchups, cracks are emerging down the ballot, where public trust and institutional legitimacy are demanding attention from voters now more than any other time in recent memory.
