The Ballot Brief
Scotland County, North Carolina

North Carolina House District 48

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ralph Carter and Garland E. Pierce. Candidate information follows official Scotland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ralph Carter (Republican), Garland E. Pierce (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Garland E. Pierce 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, Garland E. Pierce, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Scotland County › North Carolina House District 48

Ralph Carter

Republican

Top priorities
  • Lists affordability as a top priority
  • Lists education as a top priority
  • Lists healthy families as a top priority

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Carter is an orthopedic surgeon who has practiced in Laurinburg for more than three decades, per the campaign site. Carter served 13 years of active and reserve duty in the Air Force after attending medical school at Wake Forest on an Air Force scholarship, per the campaign site. Carter earned an undergraduate degree in zoology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has lived in Laurinburg for more than 35 years, per the campaign site.

Garland E. Pierce

Garland E. Pierce

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Emphasizes constituent-focused leadership across education, law enforcement, healthcare and small business

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Garland E. Pierce is the Democratic incumbent for North Carolina House District 48, representing Hoke and Scotland counties, and is serving an 11th term, per the North Carolina General Assembly. Pierce is a Baptist minister who has served as pastor for more than 45 years, previously worked as a UPS driver and served in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1974, per the North Carolina General Assembly.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 21, Seat 1

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina House District 48 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina House District 48 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ralph Carter and Garland E. Pierce. Candidate information follows official Scotland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina House District 48 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 Scotland 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 Scotland 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 Scotland County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Scotland County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
North Carolina District Court Judge, District 21, Seat 3North Carolina Senate District 24See all 4 Scotland County races
Candidate profiles
Ralph Carter, full profileGarland E. Pierce, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office