The Ballot Brief
Wake County, North Carolina

Wake County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for Wake County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Willie Rowe and Kenny Blackwell. Candidate information follows official Wake County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

From the State Board of Elections certified candidate list.

What this office does

Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.

This race. Every voter in Wake County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Willie Rowe, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Wake County › Wake County Sheriff

Willie Rowe

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Willie Rowe has been Wake County's sheriff since 2022 after a long career in the sheriff's office, per the county's official sheriff's office page.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Kenny Blackwell

Republican

Top priorities
  • Faster response times
  • Fentanyl and trafficking enforcement
  • Deputy and detention officer pay plus mental health services

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Kenny Blackwell is a career law enforcement officer who has served as a Wake County deputy and a U.S. Marshal and is currently a State Capitol Police investigator, per his campaign site and the Wake Weekly.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotWake County Clerk of Superior Court

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Wake County Sheriff in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Wake County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Willie Rowe and Kenny Blackwell. Candidate information follows official Wake County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Wake County Sheriff 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.

The rest of your Wake County ballot

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
Wake Board of Commissioners At-LargeWake Commission District 1Wake Commission District 2See all 37 Wake County races
Candidate profiles
Willie Rowe, full profileKenny Blackwell, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office