The Ballot Brief
Lincoln County, North Carolina

North Carolina House District 97

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Heather Rhyne and Greg McBryde. Candidate information follows official Lincoln County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Heather Rhyne (Republican), Greg McBryde (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Heather Rhyne 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, Heather Rhyne, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Lincoln County › North Carolina House District 97

Heather Rhyne

Heather Rhyne

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Quality education advocacy
  • Community relationship building described on her site as a collaborative, level headed and common sense approach

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Heather Rhyne is a Republican representing North Carolina House District 97, covering Lincoln County. She was first elected in 2024 and was designated House Majority Freshman Leader in her first year, per the North Carolina General Assembly. Rhyne is a licensed retail pharmacist who has worked for several independent pharmacies since 1998 and earned her pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, per her campaign site. She is originally from Cherryville, has lived in Lincoln County for more than 20 years, and served eight years on the Lincoln County Board of Education, three as chairwoman, per her campaign site.

Greg McBryde

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Improving recruitment and retention of teachers through better local pay
  • Modernizing aging school facilities
  • Lowering healthcare and prescription drug costs and expanding access to local medical and mental health providers in rural areas

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Greg McBryde is a Democrat running for North Carolina House District 97, covering Lincoln County, per his campaign site.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 39, Seat 1

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina House District 97 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 97 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Heather Rhyne and Greg McBryde. Candidate information follows official Lincoln County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina House District 97 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Lincoln County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Lincoln County Board of CommissionersLincoln County Board of Education, At-LargeLincoln County Board of Education, District 2See all 12 Lincoln County races
Candidate profiles
Heather Rhyne, full profileGreg McBryde, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office