Primary election results 2026: Sheriff McFadden wins reelection, plus other takeaways
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Ashley Mahoney/Axios
Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden, a Democrat, fended off three challengers in the competitive primary and is set to remain in office, as he advances to the November general election without opposition.
Why it matters: McFadden enters his third term during one of the most volatile periods of his career. He's under state investigation for misconduct allegations, is facing national scrutiny for immigration disputes, and is accused of running a toxic workplace.
By the numbers: The sheriff secured 34% of the votes, with a 2,717 vote lead ahead of Charlotte police sergeant Ricky Robbins, who had endorsements from Luke Kuechly and Chuba Hubbard, former and current Panthers players.
- Robbins ended the night with 31% of the votes, while Rodney Collins and Antwain Nance got 27% and 8%, respectively.
Here's what else happened on election night:
🇺🇸 No surprises in the U.S. Senate race
Former Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and Michael Whatley, former chair of the Republican National Committee, handily won their primaries, setting the stage for an intense and expensive showdown to replace U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican who is not seeking reelection.
Go deeper: Cooper, Whatley set up N.C. Senate showdown
💥 Democrats fire Cunningham and Majeed
Rodney Sadler has ousted seven-term Rep. Carla Cunningham in District 106.
- Cunningham was shunned by some members of the Democratic Party — including Gov. Josh Stein, who endorsed Sadler — for helping override a number of the governor's vetoes, including one requiring stricter ICE compliance for sheriffs.
In District 99, Veleria Levy defeated four-term Rep. Nasif Majeed.
- Like Cunningham, Majeed was under some fire with his party for veto overrides on legislation that rolled back Duke Energy's carbon emissions reduction mandate and a bill that upset transgender rights activists.
- Facing no competition in November, Levy and Sadler will both take office.
Also in state races:
- District 105: Incumbent Rep. Tricia Cotham defeated Kelly Van Horn, who had only recently changed her registration to Republican in 2025.
- Cotham switched parties in 2023 and helped Republicans pass stricter abortion laws.
- In the general election, Cotham faces a challenge from former Matthews commissioner Ken McCool, who had no opposition in the Democratic primary.
- District 37: Raygan Angel won the Democratic primary and will face incumbent Sen. Vickie Sawyer in this Republican-leaning district.
🌆 Mecklenburg commissioners sweep (except Leake)
Sitting commissioners Leigh Altman, Arthur Griffin and Yvette Townsend-Ingram were the frontrunners among 10 contenders in the board's at-large race.
- All three are set to take office since no candidates from other parties filed to run.
- Townsend-Ingram recently had a warrant out for her arrest for violating a court order as part of a 2024 guilty plea for DWI. Gaston County later struck the warrant after Townsend-Ingram submitted documentation showing she completed community service, WSOC reported.
Yes, but: In District 2, Monifa Drayton, the ex-Mecklenburg County Democratic Party executive director, beat out longtime commissioner Vilma Leake, who was first elected in 2008, by 602 votes.
- In November, Republican Angela White Edwards will be on the ballot versus Drayton.
Other commissioner races:
- District 1: Morris "Mac" McAdoo advanced in the race to replace Elaine Powell, who isn't running again. He will run against Aaron Marin, a Republican, in November.
- District 3: George Dunlap, the former board of commissioners' chair, will hold onto his seat for another term after beating his challenger.
The big picture: So we know now that the next board will consist of incumbents Altman, Griffin, Townsend-Ingram, Dunlap, plus Democrats Mark Jerrell (District 4), Susan Rodriguez-McDowell (District 6) and freshman member Charles DeLoach (District 5).
- DeLoach faced no opposition in his bid to fill the seat of Laura Meier, who is not seeking another term.
🪧 "Kate Barr Can Win" campaign fails against Moore
Incumbent Republican Rep. Tim Moore will face Democratic challenger Lakesha Womack after both won their primaries for District 14.
- Moore fended off "fake Republican" Kate Barr, who ran in the GOP primary to protest gerrymandering with the slogan "Kate Barr Can Win."
Other U.S. House of Representatives results:
- District 8: Colby Watson will face Rep. Mark Harris, the Republican at the center of an election fraud scandal over the 2018 midterms, this November.
- District 12: It will be incumbent Democratic Rep. Alma Adams vs. Jack Codiga in the general election after both won their respective primaries.
🏛️ And what about those judicial races
Court of Appeals Seat 1: Michael Byrne won the Republican primary and will face Judge John Arrowood, a Democrat, in November.
Court of Appeals Seat 3: Christine Marie Walczyk won the Democratic primary and will face Republican Craig Collins in November.
Superior Court Judge District 26C Seat 1: George Guise is the Democratic nominee and faces no opposition in November.
District Court Judge District 26 Seat 18: Habekah Cannon won the Democratic bid and will face no opposition in November.