Hertford County, North Carolina

North Carolina Senate District 1

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melissa Zehner and Jerry Tillett. Candidate information follows official Hertford County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Melissa Zehner (Democratic), Jerry Tillett (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Jerry Tillett 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, Jerry Tillett, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Hertford County › North Carolina Senate District 1

Melissa Zehner

Democratic

Top priorities

Increasing teacher pay and
Opposes directing public education funds to private school vouchers
Addressing affordability of groceries, healthcare and childcare

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Melissa Zehner is a Democrat running for North Carolina Senate District 1, covering ten counties in northeastern North Carolina. She grew up in rural Farmville, Virginia, the daughter of a public school teacher and small business owner, and is a mother of two children who attend public schools, per her campaign site. Zehner now lives on the Outer Banks and previously worked in Minor League Baseball management before becoming a stay at home parent, per her campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Jerry Tillett

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Restore accountability in state government
Strengthen coastal communities

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Jerry Tillett is a Republican representing North Carolina Senate District 1, covering Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Tyrrell counties. He was appointed to the seat on September 3, 2026, per the North Carolina General Assembly.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Senate District 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina Senate District 1 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 Hertford 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 Hertford County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Hertford County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Hertford County ballot

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

See all 2 Hertford County races

Candidate profiles

Melissa Zehner, full profile Jerry Tillett, full profile Official North Carolina election office