The Ballot Brief
Avery County, North Carolina

North Carolina Senate District 47

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Frank Patton Hughes III and Ralph Hise. Candidate information follows official Avery County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Frank Patton Hughes III (Democratic), Ralph Hise (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Ralph Hise is the sitting member, per the General Assembly's roster. Party nominees were chosen at the March 3 primary (a second primary is held only when no one reaches 30 percent plus one); unaffiliated candidates qualified by petition. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Ralph Hise, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Avery County › North Carolina Senate District 47

Frank Patton Hughes III

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Addressing underfunding and overcrowding in public schools
  • Ensuring access to quality medical care in the mountain region
  • Environmental stewardship of forests, pastures and streams that support local food production and tourism

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Frank Patton Hughes III is a Democrat running for North Carolina Senate District 47, covering Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties. He was born in Iredell County and has lived throughout the state, with his family's deepest roots in Avery County, per his campaign site. Hughes is a social studies teacher at McDowell High School and previously taught at Philo Hill Middle School and helped write curriculum for the Winston-Salem/Forsyth school district, per his campaign site. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University, per his campaign site.

Ralph Hise

Ralph Hise

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Ralph Hise is a Republican representing North Carolina Senate District 47, covering Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga and Yancey counties, and is serving his eighth term as Senate Deputy President Pro Tempore, per the North Carolina General Assembly.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina House District 85

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Senate District 47 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Frank Patton Hughes III and Ralph Hise. Candidate information follows official Avery County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina Senate District 47 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 Avery 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 Avery County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Avery County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Avery County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 35, Seat 1North Carolina District Court Judge, District 35, Seat 1See all 4 Avery County races
Candidate profiles
Frank Patton Hughes III, full profileRalph Hise, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office