Harnett County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
19 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 13 Harnett County races, led by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 1 contest.
County offices
Board of Commissioners District 1Barbara McKoy (D) · Abraham (Abe) Durante (R)
Barbara McKoy Democratic
- economic development and job creation
- improving public school quality as a driver of economic prosperity
Per the campaign site.
About Barbara McKoy
Barbara McKoy is the sitting District 1 commissioner, first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022. She is a retired business agent and political liaison for Workers United, per a Harnett County press release, and has served on the Harnett Central Hospital board and as a founding member of the Harnett United Police Athletic League and the Harnett County Food Pantry.
Abraham (Abe) Durante Republican
Abraham (Abe) Durante appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 1, 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 Abraham (Abe) Durante.
Incumbent Democrat Barbara McKoy, first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2018 and 2022, faces Republican challenger Abraham (Abe) Durante on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the NCSBE certified candidate list.
Full race pageBoard of Commissioners District 2Dewayne Lee (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Dewayne Lee (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Board of Commissioners District 2.
Dewayne Lee Republican
- Bring transparency, accountability and a community-first focus to local government
- Support veterans and first responders with adequate benefits and resources
- Keep the local tax burden lower for residents
Per the campaign site.
About Dewayne Lee
Dewayne Lee is a lifelong Harnett County resident and small business owner who serves as a volunteer firefighter and board member of the Flat Branch Volunteer Fire Department, per his campaign site. He won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary in the open District 2 seat over Eric Stevenson, per the Daily Record.
Sherrill Dewayne Lee is unopposed on the November ballot for the open District 2 seat; outgoing commissioner William (Bill) Morris, elected in 2022, is not seeking reelection. Lee won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary over Eric Stevenson, per the Daily Record.
Full race pageClerk of Superior CourtWhitney Pearce (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Whitney Pearce (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Clerk of Superior Court.
Whitney Pearce Republican
Whitney Pearce currently works as an assistant clerk in the Harnett County Clerk of Superior Court's office, per the court's staff listing. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Whitney Pearce.
Whitney Pearce is unopposed on the November ballot for the open seat; the current Clerk of Superior Court, Reneé Whittenton, is not a 2026 candidate.
Full race pageSheriffReggie Watson (D) · Aaron Meredith (R)
Reggie Watson Democratic
- Support deputies with proper training and fair pay
- Build transparency and accountability into department leadership
- Provide professional, respectful policing to residents
Per the campaign site.
About Reggie Watson
Reggie Watson is a retired law enforcement officer with nearly 50 years of combined military and civilian service, including more than 21 years as an Army Military Police officer, a Town of Spring Lake police officer, an NC DMV enforcement officer and instructor, an NC State Trooper, and a security forces officer at Womack Army Medical Center, per his campaign site. He retired for the third time in May 2025 and previously ran for sheriff in 2022, per his campaign site.
Aaron Meredith Republican
- Pair traditional values with new ideas for running the department
- Stay directly connected to the community he has served for 28 years
Per the campaign site.
About Aaron Meredith
Aaron Meredith has spent 28 years with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office and currently oversees the county's detention center, per Sandhills News. His campaign centers on continuing that career of service to Harnett County residents, per his campaign site.
Open seat: Sheriff Wayne Coats is retiring. Democrat Reggie Watson and Republican Aaron Meredith meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the NCSBE certified list and Sandhills News coverage of a July 16, 2026 candidate forum.
Full race pageSchool board
Board of Education District 1Sharon McNeill Gainey (D)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Sharon McNeill Gainey (Democratic) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Board of Education District 1.
Sharon McNeill Gainey Democratic
Sharon McNeill Gainey is the sitting Harnett County Board of Education member for District 1, per the district's official board portal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Sharon McNeill Gainey.
Sharon McNeill Gainey is unopposed on the November ballot.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 3Brad Abate (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Brad Abate (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Board of Education District 3.
Brad Abate Republican
Bradley Abate is the sitting Harnett County Board of Education member for District 3 and serves as the board's vice-chairman, per the district's official board portal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Brad Abate.
Brad Abate is unopposed on the November ballot.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 5Don Godfrey (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Don Godfrey (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Harnett County Board of Education District 5.
Don Godfrey Republican
Don Godfrey is the sitting Harnett County Board of Education member for District 5, per the district's official board portal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official roster and election filing is the only verifiable source for Don Godfrey.
Don Godfrey is unopposed on the November ballot.
Full race pageJudges
North Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 1Joy A. Jones (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Joy A. Jones Republican Incumbent
Joy A. Jones serves as District Court Judge for Judicial District 12, per the NC Judicial Directory. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Joy A. Jones (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 1. Voters across Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. State law limits who may run for this seat to a resident of Johnston County, but every voter in the district still elects it. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).
Full race pageNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 2Travis N. Wheeler (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Travis N. Wheeler Republican Incumbent
Travis N. Wheeler serves as District Court Judge for Judicial District 12, per the NC Judicial Directory. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Travis N. Wheeler (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 2. Voters across Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. State law limits who may run for this seat to a resident of Johnston County, but every voter in the district still elects it. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).
Full race pageNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 3Jason P. Kimble (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jason P. Kimble Republican Incumbent
Jason Kimble serves as District Court Judge for Judicial District 12, per the NC Judicial Directory. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Jason P. Kimble (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 12, Seat 3. Voters across Harnett, Johnston and Lee counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Harnett County is split across 2 North Carolina House districts.
Find your districts by addressNorth Carolina House: 2 districtsDistricts 6, 53
North Carolina House District 6Tony Spears (D) · Joe Pike (R)
Tony Spears Democratic
- Increase school funding and teacher pay
- Expand access to safe, affordable housing in Harnett County
Per the campaign site.
About Tony Spears
Tony Spears is a former president of the Harnett County NAACP who has served multiple terms as chair of the Harnett County Board of Elections, per the campaign site.
Joe Pike Republican Incumbent
Joe Pike is a business owner and president of Twisted Grape Investments Inc., per the NC General Assembly. He represents House District 6, covering Harnett County, and is serving his second term. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Tony Spears (Democratic), Joe Pike (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Joe Pike 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.
Full race pageNorth Carolina House District 53Kevin G. Thurman (D) · Christopher Sessions (Libertarian) · Howard L. Penny, Jr. (R)
Kevin G. Thurman Democratic
- Economic recovery
- Quality public education for all
- Equal access to healthcare
Per the campaign site.
About Kevin G. Thurman
Kevin G. Thurman has worked at Research Triangle Institute and Blue Cross NC on healthcare policy issues, per his campaign site. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Duke University and a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, per the same source.
Christopher Sessions Libertarian
Christopher Sessions is a candidate for North Carolina House District 53. No campaign website was found as of September 28, 2026.
Howard L. Penny, Jr. Republican Incumbent
Howard L. Penny, Jr. is retired from agribusiness and serves as House Deputy Majority Whip, per the NC General Assembly. He represents House District 53, covering Harnett and Johnston counties. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Kevin G. Thurman (Democratic), Christopher Sessions (Libertarian), Howard L. Penny, Jr. (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Howard L. Penny, Jr. 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.
Full race pageNorth Carolina Senate District 12Jim Burgin (R) · Tanya White Anderson (D)
Jim Burgin Republican Incumbent
Jim Burgin is the president and owner of C&D Insurance and previously served two terms as a Harnett County Commissioner, per the campaign site. He has represented North Carolina's 12th Senate District since 2019 and chairs the Senate Healthcare Committee, per the campaign site.
Tanya White Anderson Democratic
Tanya White Anderson is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina Senate District 12 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Jim Burgin (Republican), Tanya White Anderson (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Jim Burgin 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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
North Carolina nominees were set by the March 3 primary; a candidate clearing 30 percent plus one avoids a second primary, and unopposed nominees still print on the November 3 ballot, per the State Board of Elections.
Who is on the ballot in Harnett County, North Carolina on November 3, 2026?
Harnett County sample ballot 2026: see where the board of commissioners, county sheriff and board of education candidates stand on schools and jobs. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in North Carolina?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are listed on the North Carolina election hub. North Carolina election hub →
How do I see my exact Harnett County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Sample ballot by ZIP code in Harnett County11 ZIP codes
Candidate roster last updated Sep 29, 2026 from official election sources.