Union County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
35 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 17 Union County races, led by the Union County Board of Commissioners contest.
County offices
Board of CommissionersChristina Dupont (D) · Melissa M. Merrell (R) · Brian W. Helms (R) · Sam Harris (R)
Christina Dupont (Democratic), Melissa M. Merrell (Republican), Brian W. Helms (Republican) and Sam Harris (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Commissioners.
Christina Dupont Democratic
Christina Dupont appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Commissioners, 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 Christina Dupont.
Melissa M. Merrell Republican
Merrell is the sitting chair of the Union County Board of Commissioners, seeking re-election, and previously served in a leadership role on the county's board of education, per The Charlotte Weekly. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Melissa M. Merrell.
Brian W. Helms Republican
Helms is the sitting vice chairman of the Union County Board of Commissioners, seeking re-election, with a project-management background, per The Charlotte Weekly. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brian W. Helms.
Sam Harris Republican
- preserving Union County's character while planning responsibly for growth
Per the campaign site.
About Sam Harris
Sam Harris is a Plant Pest Specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' Plant Protection Section, a position held for eight years, per the campaign site. Harris was elected to the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in 2022, serves as Treasurer and operates a small produce farm, per the campaign site. Harris holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Science from North Carolina State University, per the campaign site.
Three of Union's board seats are up (voters pick up to 3; a fourth, unexpired, seat is a separate contest below). Republicans Melissa M. Merrell, Brian W. Helms and Sam Harris won a six-candidate March 3, 2026 Republican primary (official Union County certified November list confirms these three as nominees; unofficial county-summed NCSBE precinct results: Helms 10,809 votes/12.8% of all ballots cast, Harris 9,662/11.4%, Merrell 8,529/10.1%, ahead of Patrick Tyson, Wyatt Dunn and Elizabeth Lee). Democrat Christina Dupont filed with no primary opponent. Sitting commissioner Clancy Baucom, whose seat is also up in 2026, did not seek re-election to the board and instead ran for and won the Republican nomination for NC House District 55.
Full race pageBoard of Commissioners (Unexpired Term)Errol Wedra (R) · Madeleine Byl (D)
Errol Wedra (Republican) and Madeleine Byl (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Commissioners (Unexpired Term).
Errol Wedra Republican
Wedra, vice chairman of the Union County Republican Party, was appointed by the Board of Commissioners to fill the seat vacated by the resignation and subsequent death of Commissioner Gary Sides, and was sworn in May 4, 2026, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Errol Wedra.
Madeleine Byl Democratic
Byl works as an identity auditor for a hospital, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Madeleine Byl.
This seat, previously held by Commissioner Gary Sides, is up in a special contest for the remainder of the term (through December 2028). Sides resigned March 31, 2026 due to health issues and died a week later; the Board of Commissioners appointed Republican Errol Wedra, vice chairman of the Union County GOP, to fill the vacancy, and he was sworn in May 4, 2026, per the Enquirer Journal. Wedra is the Republican nominee and Democrat Madeleine Byl is the Democratic nominee in November; both filed with no primary opponent.
Full race pageClerk of Superior CourtWendy Maynard (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Wendy Maynard Republican
Maynard began a career in 1995 as a deputy clerk in the Clerk of Superior Court's office in Charlotte before transferring to the Union County Clerk of Superior Court's office, per the campaign site. In 2004 Maynard joined the Union County District Attorney's Office as a Victim/Witness Legal Assistant and currently serves as a Legal Assistant managing Superior Court calendars and the Grand Jury process. Maynard has more than 26 years of service with the North Carolina judicial system, 25 of them in Union County.
Incumbent Republican Wendy Maynard filed with no primary or general-election opposition. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageSheriffEddie Cathey (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Eddie Cathey Republican
Cathey has served as Union County sheriff since 2002 and has more than 45 years in law enforcement, per The Charlotte Weekly. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Eddie Cathey.
Incumbent Republican Eddie Cathey won a three-candidate March 3 Republican primary that also included Todd Elmore and Terry Boag, and no other candidate filed for the November 3 ballot, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections' official results. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageDistrict Attorney District 30Trey Robison (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Trey Robison Republican
Trey Robison appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for District Attorney District 30, 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 Trey Robison.
Covers Union County (NC Judicial Branch, Prosecutorial District 30). Incumbent Republican Trey Robison filed with no primary or general-election opposition. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
Full race pageCity of Monroe CouncilMichelle Ball (R) · Parker Mills (R) · Heidi Petterson (R) · Kensley McCoy (D) · Abigail Pepper (Independent)
Michelle Ball (Republican), Parker Mills (Republican), Heidi Petterson (Republican), Kensley McCoy (Democratic) and Abigail Pepper (Independent) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for City of Monroe Council.
Michelle Ball Republican
- Government transparency
- Limiting taxes
- Opposing high-density development; child safety concerns
Per the Enquirer Journal.
About Michelle Ball
Ball is a homeschool educator who has spent her life raising and educating her children at home and now serves as caretaker for her elderly mother, per the campaign site. She has regularly attended and spoken at Monroe City Council meetings over the past three years, per the campaign site.
Parker Mills Republican
- A growth moratorium and reduced traffic
- Protecting infrastructure and reducing taxes
- Supporting public safety
Per the Enquirer Journal.
About Parker Mills
Mills is a former Union County commissioner (1990-1998) and a retired small-business owner, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Parker Mills.
Heidi Petterson Republican
- Opposing high-density housing
- Supporting law enforcement and strengthening infrastructure
- Reducing the tax burden
Per the Enquirer Journal.
About Heidi Petterson
Petterson is a homeschooling parent with a background in finance and administration, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Heidi Petterson.
Kensley McCoy Democratic
- Government accountability and transparency
- Protecting farmland and rural character alongside responsible growth
Per the press coverage.
About Kensley McCoy
McCoy is a small-business owner and lifelong Monroe resident, per press coverage of the race. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Kensley McCoy.
Abigail Pepper Independent
- Housing affordability so longtime residents, seniors and working families can stay in Monroe
- Collaborative governance focused on solutions over political conflict
- Accessible, year-round responsiveness to constituents
Per the campaign site.
About Abigail Pepper
Abigail Pepper is an unaffiliated candidate for Monroe City Council, per the campaign site.
Three seats are up, decided by plurality (voters pick up to 3). Republicans Parker Mills, Michelle Ball and Heidi Petterson won a six-candidate Republican primary (official results per the Enquirer Journal: Mills 1,371 votes/23.46%, Ball 1,013/17.33%, Petterson 935/16.00%, edging sitting council member Gary Anderson by 5 votes; sitting members James Kerr and Julie Thompson also did not win renomination). Democrat Kensley McCoy and unaffiliated candidate Abigail Pepper each filed with no primary opponent. None of the five November candidates currently holds a council seat.
Full race pageSchool board
Board of Education At-LargeAlexis Stadler (D) · Linda O. Robinson (R)
Alexis Stadler (Democratic) and Linda O. Robinson (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Education At-Large.
Alexis Stadler Democratic
Stadler has a background in nonprofit work and mental health counseling, per The Charlotte Weekly. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Alexis Stadler.
Linda O. Robinson Republican
Robinson is a teacher with more than 30 years of classroom experience, per press coverage of the race. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Linda O. Robinson.
Open seat: sitting at-large member Rev. Jimmy H. Bention Sr., whose term expires in 2026, did not file for re-election. Republican Linda O. Robinson won a four-candidate Republican primary that also included sitting District 4 representative Sandra Greene (unofficial county-summed NCSBE precinct results: Robinson 8,483 votes/36.4%, ahead of Sandra Hernandez Greene 2,252/9.7%, Wilden Harbour 2,162/9.3% and Raven Faherty 2,121/9.1%). Democrat Alexis Stadler filed with no primary opponent.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 03Barry Tucker (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Barry Tucker (Republican) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Education District 03.
Barry Tucker Republican
Tucker was appointed to the Board of Education's District 3 seat in January 2025 and is running to keep it, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Barry Tucker.
Incumbent Republican Barry Tucker, appointed to the seat in January 2025, won a two-candidate Republican primary (official results per the Enquirer Journal: Tucker 1,673 votes/53.79%). He filed with no general-election opposition.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 04Brittany Cabuno (D) · Stephen Smith (R)
Brittany Cabuno (Democratic) and Stephen Smith (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Education District 04.
Brittany Cabuno Democratic
Cabuno's campaign centers on support for students and teachers, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Brittany Cabuno.
Stephen Smith Republican
- Teacher retention and compensation
- Being responsive to constituent calls and emails
- Fiscally responsible use of taxpayer funds
Per the campaign site.
About Stephen Smith
Smith is a barber who has owned his Union County shop for the past 14 years after training at the Hairstyling Institute of Charlotte and later earning a bachelor's degree from N.C. State University, per the campaign site. He is a two-term president of the Mint Hill Lions Club and has served on the Town of Stallings Board of Adjustment, per the campaign site.
Open seat: sitting District 4 representative Sandra Greene, whose term expires in 2026, ran for the board's at-large seat instead (and did not win that primary). Democrat Brittany Cabuno won a two-candidate Democratic primary (official results per the Enquirer Journal: Cabuno 1,182 votes/71.16% over Derrick Lewis). Republican Stephen Smith filed with no primary opponent.
Full race pageBoard of Education District 06Brandi Smith (R) · Evan Metaxatos (D)
Brandi Smith (Republican) and Evan Metaxatos (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Education District 06.
Brandi Smith Republican
Brandi Smith appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union County Board of Education District 06, 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 Brandi Smith.
Evan Metaxatos Democratic
- Ensuring every student has the resources and support to succeed
- Fiscal accountability and directing tax dollars to classroom investment
- Supporting teachers
Per the campaign site.
About Evan Metaxatos
Metaxatos is a local attorney who specializes in Social Security disability law and lives in Waxhaw with his wife and two daughters, per the campaign site.
Open seat: sitting District 6 representative Kathy Heintel, whose term expires in 2026, did not file for re-election. Both parties' primaries were canceled with only one filer each: Republican Brandi Smith and Democrat Evan Metaxatos advance directly to November.
Full race pageCities and towns
City of Monroe MayorDavid Dotson (R) · Surluta B. Anthony (D)
David Dotson (Republican) and Surluta B. Anthony (Democratic) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for City of Monroe Mayor.
David Dotson Republican
- Preventing high-density development
- Supporting law enforcement and public safety
- Fiscal responsibility and resident participation in decisions
Per the Enquirer Journal.
About David Dotson
David Dotson is a member of the Monroe City Council with nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, per the campaign site. Dotson previously served on the city planning board and authored amendments to the city's development ordinances, per the campaign site.
Surluta B. Anthony Democratic
Anthony has served on the Monroe City Council since 2013, when she became the first African American woman elected to the council, and is the sitting Mayor Pro Tem, per the Enquirer Journal. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Surluta B. Anthony.
Sitting Mayor Robert Burns did not seek re-election. Republican David Dotson, a sitting Monroe council member, won a two-candidate Republican primary (official results per the Enquirer Journal: Dotson 1,259 votes/58.34% over Pat Kahle). He faces Democrat Surluta Anthony, the sitting Mayor Pro Tem, who filed with no primary opponent.
Full race pageDistricts and boards
Soil and Water Conservation District SupervisorNonpartisan race · Taylor Moyer · Wayne S. Moser
Taylor Moyer and Wayne S. Moser are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.
Taylor Moyer Nonpartisan
Taylor Moyer appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, 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 Taylor Moyer.
Wayne S. Moser Nonpartisan
Wayne S. Moser appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Union Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, 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 Wayne S. Moser.
Nonpartisan; no primary was needed (two candidates filed for the two seats, decided by plurality). The seats are filled at the November 3, 2026 general election.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Union County is split across 5 North Carolina Senate and House districts.
Find your districts by addressNorth Carolina Senate: 2 districtsDistricts 29, 35
North Carolina Senate District 29Dave Craven (R) · Judy Little (D)
Dave Craven Republican Incumbent
- Education advancement
- Public safety and support for veterans and first responders
- Economic development
Per the campaign site.
About Dave Craven
Craven is the sitting state senator for District 29 and Senior Vice President for business development at Fidelity Bank, per the campaign site. He previously chaired the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation and served on the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina board, per the campaign site.
Judy Little Democratic
Judy Little filed as the Democratic candidate for NC Senate District 29 on July 6, 2026, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Dave Craven (Republican), Judy Little (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Dave Craven 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 35Christine E. Winward (D) · Todd Johnson (R)
Christine E. Winward Democratic
Christine E. Winward filed as the Democratic candidate for NC Senate District 35 on December 12, 2025, per the North Carolina State Board of Elections certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Todd Johnson Republican Incumbent
Todd Johnson serves as Senate Majority Whip, per the NC General Assembly. He represents Senate District 35, covering Cabarrus and Union counties, and is serving his fourth term in the Senate.
Christine E. Winward (Democratic), Todd Johnson (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot; Todd Johnson 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: 3 districtsDistricts 55, 68, 69
North Carolina House District 55Clancy Baucom (R) · John J. Kirkpatrick IV (D)
Clancy Baucom Republican
- Support limited government and fiscal responsibility
- Protect farmland from excessive taxation and regulation
- Support voter ID and election-integrity measures
Per the campaign site.
About Clancy Baucom
Clancy Baucom is a Union County commissioner who operated a wholesale nursery business in Marshville for 37 years, per his campaign site and the Enquirer Journal.
John J. Kirkpatrick IV Democratic
John J. Kirkpatrick IV works as an educator and holds a bachelor's degree from Morris College, per a Branch Vote candidate profile. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Clancy Baucom (Republican), John J. Kirkpatrick IV (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Rep. Mark Brody (Republican), the sitting member per the General Assembly's roster, is not on the November ballot. 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 68David Willis (R) · Derek Warriner (D)
David Willis Republican Incumbent
- Chairs committees on education and the state's education budget
- Supports tax relief for farm and fishing families
- Supports expanded flexibility and accountability for charter schools
Per the campaign site.
About David Willis
David Willis has represented North Carolina House District 68 in Union County since 2021, per the campaign site. Willis is an Appalachian State University graduate who built a local preschool business after working in manufacturing, banking and finance, per the campaign site.
Derek Warriner Democratic
- Prohibiting political donations from corporations doing business in North Carolina
- Making groceries, healthcare, housing, and childcare more affordable
- Increasing public school funding and teacher compensation
Per the campaign site.
About Derek Warriner
Derek Warriner is a healthcare executive with 15 years in the industry, currently at Riverain Technologies after previously working at Philips Healthcare, per his campaign site. He holds a finance degree from Santa Clara University and has volunteered with Common Heart, Meals on Wheels, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
David Willis (Republican), Derek Warriner (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; David Willis 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 69Dean Arp (R) · Heidi Sinsley (D)
Dean Arp Republican Incumbent
Dean Arp works as an engineer, per the NC General Assembly. He represents House District 69, covering Union County, and is serving his seventh term. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.
Heidi Sinsley Democratic
- Support military and veteran welfare
- Ensure families do not lose healthcare coverage due to illness
- Strengthen public schools and student nutrition programs
Per the campaign site.
About Heidi Sinsley
Heidi Sinsley is an attorney from the Stallings and Matthews area of Union County, per her campaign site. She is a public school graduate who served as her high school's first biology teaching assistant, per the same source.
Dean Arp (Republican), Heidi Sinsley (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Dean Arp 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 pageBallot questions
One local ballot question from official county, city and school district lists. Countywide questions appear on every ballot in Union County; city, school district and special-district questions only inside the jurisdiction named. Statewide measures are listed separately.
Union County Jail Bonds ReferendumCountywide · Shall the order authorizing $200,000,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the design, construction, furnishing and equipping of a new jail facility, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, be approved?
Shall the order authorizing $200,000,000 of bonds plus interest to pay the capital costs of providing for the design, construction, furnishing and equipping of a new jail facility, and providing that additional taxes may be levied in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds, be approved? Asks Union County voters to approve $200 million in general obligation bonds to design, build and equip a new county jail, financed by additional property taxes; the county estimates the cumulative cost at $312.2 million (principal plus interest) and a property tax increase of about $31.10 per year for each $100,000 of assessed property value. Source: https://unioncountyncelections.gov/sites/default/files/2026-07/2026%20General%20Election%20Contests%20and%20Referenda%20List.pdf.
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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 Union County, North Carolina on November 3, 2026?
Union County sample ballot 2026: see where the board of commissioners and board of education at-large candidates stand on the budget, growth and schools. 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 →
What ballot questions are on the Union County ballot?
1 ballot question: Union County Jail Bonds Referendum. Each question page explains what a yes vote and a no vote would do.
How do I see my exact Union 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 →
North Carolina statewide racesEvery North Carolina race on this county's ballot.All North Carolina ballot measures3 statewide ballot measuresCandidate roster last updated Oct 2, 2026 from official election sources.