ROCKINGHAM — Candidate filing for the 2026 elections opens on Monday with at least two offices already facing opposition.
Candidates for several elected positions will have from Dec. 1-19 to file at the Richmond County Board of Elections.
Four seats each are up for reelection on the Richmond County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education.
Seats currently held by Commissioners Rick Watkins, Justin Dawkins, Jason Gainey and Robin Roberts.
Watkins, who currently serves as chairman, was first elected as a Democrat in 2018. However, he switched party affiliation prior to filing in the 2022 election, when Roberts and Gainey were voted in to constitute the county’s first all-Republican board.
Dawkins was appointed in 2020 to fill the remainder of Ben Moss’ term when the latter was elected to the N.C. House of Representatives, and retained the seat in ‘22.
As for the school board, the seats currently held by Cory Satterfield, Bobbie Sue Ormsby, Daryl Mason and Scotty Baldwin are up for grabs.
Sheriff Mark Gulledge, who switched his affiliation to Republican in 2023, is up for reelection and will likely face a challenge from former deputy Tahid Rucker, who has been campaigning throughout the year.
District Attorney Jamie Adams, who was appointed in 2024 to replace Reece Saunders, will also likely be challenged by Assistant Attorney General Herman Little, who previously served in the district as an assistant district attorney.
Other local races include: clerk of superior court, currently held by Vickie Daniel; two district court judge seats, currently held by Chevonne Wallace and Chris Rhue; and two seats on the Richmond County Soil and Conservation District Board.
State Rep. Ben Moss, who represents Richmond County and southern Moore County, and state Sen. Dave Craven —whose district includes his home county of Randolph, along with Richmond, Anson, Montgomery and part of Union counties — are both up for reelection on the state side. Both will be running for their fourth terms in their respective chambers.
U.S. Rep. Mark Harris will be running to retain the seat for North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District.
In the U.S. Senate race, former governor Roy Cooper is expected to challenge RNC chair Michael Whately for Sen. Thom Tillis' seat.
There are also seats on the N.C. State Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals on the line.
Filing opens at noon Dec. 1 and closes at noon Dec. 19. Filing fees vary and potential candidates should contact the Board of Elections for more informations.
The primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to make a correction regarding the U.S. Senate race. 7: 13 p.m. 11-26-25.
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the name of a candidate. 10:02 a.m. 11-27-25.
