2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 85 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Dudley Greene and Suzanne Gavenus. Candidate information follows official McDowell County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Dudley Greene (Republican), Suzanne Gavenus (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Dudley Greene 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.
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, Dudley Greene, is on the ballot.
North Carolina › McDowell County › North Carolina House District 85
Republican Incumbent
Dudley Greene is a Republican representing North Carolina House District 85, covering Avery, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties, and is serving his third term, per the North Carolina General Assembly. He is a retired sheriff of McDowell County, per the North Carolina General Assembly. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.
Democratic
Per the campaign site.
Suzanne Gavenus is a Democrat running for North Carolina House District 85, covering Avery, McDowell, Mitchell and Yancey counties. She has more than three decades of experience in mental health, education and community support and currently serves as director of counseling and wellness at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics' Morganton campus, per her campaign site. Gavenus has lived in Burnsville for more than 23 years with her husband, Gary, and previously lived and worked in Avery County, per her campaign site.
Who is running for North Carolina House District 85 in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 85 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Dudley Greene and Suzanne Gavenus. Candidate information follows official McDowell County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the North Carolina House District 85 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 McDowell 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 McDowell 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 McDowell County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
6 tracked races in McDowell County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.