2 candidates are tracked for Brunswick County Board of Education District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Steve Gainey and Brian Rupp. Candidate information follows official Brunswick County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Republican Steve Gainey, the incumbent and current board chairman, faces Democrat Brian Rupp in the November 3 general election; both were unopposed in their March 3 primaries.
School board member. The school board is the governing body of a public school district. It hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts the district budget, sets policies on curriculum, discipline, attendance boundaries and facilities, and approves contracts and collective bargaining agreements. Day-to-day operations belong to the superintendent; the board sets direction and holds the administration accountable.
North Carolina › Brunswick County › Brunswick County Board of Education District 5
Steve Gainey is the incumbent District 5 board member and was elected chair of the Brunswick County Board of Education at its Dec. 2, 2025 meeting, per Brunswick County Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Steve Gainey.
Top priorities
Per candidate letter to the editor, Brunswick County Democratic Party.
Brian Rupp, of Winnabow, is a parent of a Brunswick County Schools sophomore, per a letter to the editor he wrote that was published by the Brunswick County Democratic Party. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brian Rupp.
Who is running for Brunswick County Board of Education District 5 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Brunswick County Board of Education District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Steve Gainey and Brian Rupp. Candidate information follows official Brunswick County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Brunswick County Board of Education District 5 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 Brunswick 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.
Candidate roster from official Brunswick County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Brunswick County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
14 tracked races in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.