6 candidates are tracked for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Pam Escobar, William L. Barbee, Courtney Steinberg, Bubba Hartsell, Mishell Williams and Robert Kirk. Candidate information follows official Cabarrus County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Six candidates filed for three at-large seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Pam Escobar (Democratic incumbent) and William L. Barbee, Courtney Steinberg, Bubba Hartsell, Mishell Williams, and Robert Kirk. Of the three board seats up in 2026, only Escobar's incumbent seat is being sought again; sitting members Shannon Lancaster and Sam Treadaway did not file for new terms. Results are unofficial until certified.
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.
This race. The sitting officeholder, Pam Escobar, is on the ballot.
North Carolina › Cabarrus County › Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education
Democratic Incumbent
Per the campaign site.
Pam Escobar is the sitting Cabarrus County Schools board member, serving since December 2022. She is a former teacher and journalist who now works as a communications specialist, per her campaign site, and is the mother of two students in the district.
Republican
Per the Cabarrus Compass.
William L. Barbee owns S and B Real Estate, LLC and holds a degree in Business Administration, per Cabarrus Compass. He has grandchildren currently enrolled in Cabarrus County Schools. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for William L. Barbee.
Democratic
Courtney Steinberg appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Courtney Steinberg.
Republican
Per the Cabarrus Compass.
Bubba Hartsell has spent more than 12 years working in Cabarrus and Kannapolis City Schools in roles including classroom teacher and behavioral specialist, per Cabarrus Compass. He currently serves as a Youth Education Assistant Team Leader with the NC Department of Public Safety's National Guard division and owns a real estate firm. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Bubba Hartsell.
Democratic
Per the campaign site.
Mishell Williams is a certified teacher who works part-time in Cabarrus County Schools and serves as a PTO board member, per her campaign site. She has children in elementary, middle, and high school in the district.
Republican
Per the campaign site.
Kirk's background includes military service, a private-sector leadership role, work as a classroom teacher, a district-wide educational leadership position, and previous service on a Board of Education, per the campaign site.
Who is running for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education in 2026?
6 candidates are tracked for Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Pam Escobar, William L. Barbee, Courtney Steinberg, Bubba Hartsell, Mishell Williams and Robert Kirk. Candidate information follows official Cabarrus County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education 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 Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
17 tracked races in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.