The Ballot Brief
Cumberland County, North Carolina

North Carolina House District 43

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Janene Ackles and Diane Wheatley. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Janene Ackles (Democratic), Diane Wheatley (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Diane Wheatley 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, Diane Wheatley, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Cumberland County › North Carolina House District 43

Janene Ackles

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Expanding access to affordable rural healthcare and strengthening Medicaid and mental health services
  • Rural economic development, including job creation and small business support
  • Increasing classroom funding and teacher pay while opposing diverting public school funds to vouchers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Ackles is a grant writer and founder of Grantastic Consulting, which has secured funding for nonprofit organizations nationwide, and author of a guide to nonprofit formation, per the campaign site. She founded the Cumberland County Community Watch Coalition and serves on the boards of the Vision Resource Center and the Jai 6 Youth Foundation, per the campaign site.

Diane Wheatley

Diane Wheatley

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Diane Wheatley is retired, per the NC General Assembly. She represents House District 43, covering Cumberland County, and is serving her third term. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina House District 44

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina House District 43 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 43 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Janene Ackles and Diane Wheatley. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina House District 43 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Cumberland County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
North Carolina House District 45North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14B, Seat 1See all 23 Cumberland County races
Candidate profiles
Janene Ackles, full profileDiane Wheatley, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office