The Ballot Brief
Catawba County, North Carolina

Catawba County Board of Commissioners

6 candidates are tracked for Catawba County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Sherry Edmonds Butler, Jesse Alden, Cole Terrell Setzer, Jay Moore, Phyllis Michaux and Aubrey Gregory. Candidate information follows official Catawba County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Catawba County elects 3 of its 5 commissioner seats in 2026; voters choose 3 of the 6 candidates below. Sherry Edmonds Butler, Jay Moore and incumbent Cole Setzer topped a seven-way Republican primary on March 3, 2026 (Nicholas F. Bellomo Jr., Eric Dunn, Dave Fontana and Marla G. Thompson did not advance); Jesse Alden, Phyllis Michaux and Aubrey Gregory are unopposed on the Democratic side, per the Hickory Record and the county's official elected-officials directory.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Voters choose 3; the top 3 finishers win seats. The sitting officeholder, Cole Terrell Setzer, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Catawba County › Catawba County Board of Commissioners

Sherry Edmonds Butler

Republican

Top priorities
  • Growth management through responsible development
  • Workforce development through partnerships to build a skilled local workforce

Per the response to a WBTV primary candidate questionnaire.

Biography

Sherry Edmonds Butler appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, 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 Sherry Edmonds Butler.

Jesse Alden

Democratic

Biography

Jesse Alden appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, 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 Jesse Alden.

Cole Terrell Setzer

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Cole Terrell Setzer appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, 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 Cole Terrell Setzer.

Jay Moore

Republican

Top priorities
  • support for local law enforcement
  • support for local schools
  • focus on infrastructure

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jay Moore appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Catawba County Board of Commissioners, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.

Phyllis Michaux

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Inclusive community collaboration across backgrounds
  • Leading with integrity, dedication and transparency in county services
  • Public safety, a sustainable economy and environmental protection

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Phyllis Michaux brings more than 20 years in manufacturing leadership to her campaign, along with nonprofit and public-sector experience, per her campaign site. She holds a BA in Business Operations Management and a master's degree in Liberal Studies from Lenoir-Rhyne University and chairs the Hickory Community Relations Council.

Aubrey Gregory

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Fair access to county government decisions
  • Thoughtful economic planning and development
  • Caretaking of water and natural resources

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Gregory is an accounting professional who began working at a doctor's office front desk at 19 and became a collections manager within a year, later teaching herself medical transcription to work remotely, per the campaign site. A lifelong Catawba County resident, she has volunteered with Meals on Wheels, a soup kitchen and the Backpack Program, per the campaign site.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Catawba County Board of Commissioners in 2026?

6 candidates are tracked for Catawba County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Sherry Edmonds Butler, Jesse Alden, Cole Terrell Setzer, Jay Moore, Phyllis Michaux and Aubrey Gregory. Candidate information follows official Catawba County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Catawba County Board of Commissioners 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 Catawba 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 Catawba 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 Catawba County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Catawba County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Hickory City Schools Board of Education, Ward 1Hickory City Schools Board of Education, Ward 2Hickory City Schools Board of Education, Ward 5See all 24 Catawba County races
Candidate profiles
Sherry Edmonds Butler, full profileJesse Alden, full profileCole Terrell Setzer, full profileJay Moore, full profilePhyllis Michaux, full profileAubrey Gregory, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office