2 candidates are tracked for Cumberland County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Troy A. McDuffie and LaRue Windham. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Democrat Troy A. McDuffie won a four-candidate March 3, 2026 Democratic primary (unofficial county-summed NCSBE precinct results: McDuffie 11,161 votes/48.1%, ahead of appointed sitting Sheriff Johnathan T. Morgan 6,087/26.3%, Demetrio Perez 3,600/15.5% and Joe Bailer 1,808/7.8%); no second primary was required. Morgan had been appointed in 2025 to complete Sheriff Ennis Wright's term after Wright's retirement and was not renominated. McDuffie faces Republican LaRue Windham, who had no primary opponent, in the November general election.
Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.
This race. Every voter in Cumberland County votes on this seat.
North Carolina › Cumberland County › Cumberland County Sheriff
Democratic
McDuffie has more than 35 years of law-enforcement experience across Cumberland and Hoke counties, including six years of military service with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, and began his policing career in 1986 with the Fayetteville Police Department, per CityView NC.
Republican
Windham is a probation and parole officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety's Division of Adult Corrections and Juvenile Justice, and previously served as a Cumberland County sheriff's deputy, including as deputy operations commander, from 1988 to 2008, per CityView NC. This is his third bid for sheriff, having also run in 2018 and 2022. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for LaRue Windham.
Who is running for Cumberland County Sheriff in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Cumberland County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Troy A. McDuffie and LaRue Windham. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Cumberland County Sheriff 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.
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.
23 tracked races in Cumberland County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.