The Ballot Brief
Wake County, North Carolina

North Carolina Senate District 17

3 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Patrick J. Bowersox, Mrs. Sydney Batch and Shirley Johnson. Candidate information follows official Wake County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Patrick J. Bowersox (Libertarian), Mrs. Sydney Batch (Democratic), Shirley Johnson (Republican) meet on the November 3 ballot. The seat is open: Sen. Sydney Batch (Democratic), 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.

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.

North Carolina › Wake County › North Carolina Senate District 17

Patrick J. Bowersox

Patrick J. Bowersox

Libertarian

Top priorities
  • Greater education opportunities for students and families, with education decisions made by families rather than the government
  • Reducing state regulations that hinder local small businesses
  • Better healthcare options for patients and providers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Patrick Bowersox moved to North Carolina from Connecticut in 2003 and graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a degree in culinary arts, working in Raleigh as a chef, per his campaign site. He has run for the NC Senate District 17 seat in prior election cycles. His campaign lists education choice, reduced business regulation and healthcare access among its priorities.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mrs. Sydney Batch

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Strong public schools and affordable health care
  • Clean air and water
  • Reproductive freedom and economic opportunity for working families

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Batch is a family law attorney and child welfare social worker with more than two decades of experience helping families, per the campaign site. She leads the North Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus, the first woman and first Black woman to hold the role, and previously served in the North Carolina House, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Shirley Johnson

Republican

Top priorities
  • Support law enforcement and efficient court systems
  • Expand school choice through scholarship-based options
  • Reduce the cost of living and support small businesses

Per the INDY Week questionnaire.

Biography

Shirley Johnson works as a consultant for Revived Life Coaching and Consulting and previously worked for the Illinois State Senate in appropriations, press and constituent outreach roles, per INDY Week. She helped establish the first Child Advocacy Center satellite office in central Illinois to reduce trauma for children undergoing forensic interviews, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Senate District 17 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Patrick J. Bowersox, Mrs. Sydney Batch and Shirley Johnson. Candidate information follows official Wake County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina Senate District 17 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 Wake 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 Wake County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

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

Also on your ballot
North Carolina House District 11North Carolina House District 21North Carolina House District 33See all 37 Wake County races
Candidate profiles
Patrick J. Bowersox, full profileMrs. Sydney Batch, full profileShirley Johnson, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office