2026 Mecklenburg County voter guide
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A polling place in University City in Charlotte. Photo: Laura Barrero/Axios
Mecklenburg County voters will help decide the open U.S. Senate seat, congressional and state legislative races, and constitutional amendments in this year's midterms. Plus, Charlotte has a record $425 million in city bonds on the ballot.
Why it matters: In this swing state, many of these positions could shake up party control in Washington and Raleigh. And down ballot, other decisions could affect your day-to-day life.
Pro tip: Before you look at this voter guide, find your sample ballot here so you know exactly what's on your ballot and which districts you're voting in.
How it works: During early voting (Oct. 15 to Oct. 31 at 3pm), you can cast your ballot at any of these voting sites during their open hours. Eligible residents can also register and immediately vote on the same day in person during early voting.
- On Election Day — Tuesday, Nov. 3 — registered voters must go to their assigned polling place. You can find where that is here.
Below are Mecklenburg County's contested races. We are not listing uncontested seats in this voter guide, though they will show up on your ballot.
U.S. Senate
You may vote for ONE. The winner will succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who is not seeking reelection and has at times been at odds with President Trump.
State of play: The Democratic caucus, which includes two independents, would need to net gain four seats to take control from Republicans. They're targeting North Carolina as a flip.
- Roy Cooper (D) is North Carolina's former two-term governor, who made Kamala Harris' short list for a running mate in the 2024 presidential election but pulled out. Some speculated it was because he intended to run for Senate.
- Michael Whatley (R) is the former Republican National Committee chair from Gastonia, whom Trump handpicked to run. "Pretend I'm on the ballot," the president once said while encouraging turnout at a Whatley campaign rally.
- Michael Dublin (Green Party)
- Shannon Bray (Libertarian)
Go deeper: Breaking down the U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
You may vote for ONE.
State of play: Democrats need a net gain of three seats to take the majority from Republicans.
District 12
📍 This district covers most of Charlotte.
- 🏛️ Rep. Alma Adams (D) is seeking her seventh term in this position at 80 years old. She co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus. She was once arrested at a protest over Roe v. Wade.
- Jack Codiga (R) is in his late 20s. His platform includes ending welfare programs, including "the godfather of all Ponzi schemes (Social Security)," and abolishing property and income taxes.
District 14
📍 This district includes part of Southern Mecklenburg County.
- 🏛️ Rep. Tim Moore (R), North Carolina's former House speaker for a decade, was first elected to this newly created district in 2024. Moore serves on the House Committees on Financial Services and the Budget.
- LaKesha Womack (D)
District 8
📍 This district includes Southeast Mecklenburg.
- 🏛️ Rep. Mark Harris (R) is a Baptist preacher who was at the center of an election fraud scandal over the 2018 midterms. In quite the comeback, he won the GOP nomination to this Republican-safe district in 2024.
- Colby Watson (D)
- Bo Whitehead (Green Party)
N.C. State Senate
You may vote for ONE.
State of play: The GOP is trying to protect its supermajority in the state Senate, with 30 of 50 senators currently Republican.
Senate District 37
- 🏛️ Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R)
- Raygan Angel (D)
Senate District 40
- 🏛️ Sen. Joyce Waddell (D)
- Bobbie Shields (R)
Senate District 41
- 🏛️ Sen. Caleb Theodros (D)
- Kevin Gray (R)
Senate District 42
- 🏛️ Sen. Woodson Bradley (D)
- Stacie McGinn (R)
N.C. House of Representatives
You may vote for ONE.
State of play: The GOP is one seat short of a House supermajority that can override the governor's veto, with 71 of 120 House members.
House District 88
- 🏛️ Rep. Mary Belk (D)
- Ray Craig (R)
House District 98
- 🏛️ Rep. Beth Helfrich (D)
- John Rhodes (R)
House District 104
- 🏛️ Rep. Brandon Lofton (D)
- Trina Boyd (R)
House District 105
- Rep. Tricia Cotham (R)
- Ken McCool (D)
Go deeper: Breaking down the North Carolina Senate and House
N.C. Supreme Court
You may vote for ONE.
State of play: This is one of the most-watched races in this year's midterm elections, as the Supreme Court swung from a Democratic majority to a Republican one in 2022.
- 🏛️ Anita Earls (D), a Durham-based civil rights attorney, was elected in 2018.
- Sarah Stevens (R) previously represented Surry and Wilkes counties in the N.C. House.
N.C. Court of Appeals
You may vote for ONE.
Seat 1
- Michael Byrne (R)
- 🏛️ John Arrowood (D)
Seat 2
- George Cooper Bell (R)
- 🏛️ Tobias "Toby" Hampson (D)
Seat 3
Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners District 2
You may vote for ONE. District 2 in west Charlotte is the only competitive commissioners' seat in this election.
- Angela White Edwards (R) has run for county office multiple times.
- Monifa "Mo" Drayton (D) beat longtime commissioner Vilma Leake in the Democratic primary.
Since all other commissioner seats are uncontested, the rest of the board is set to include at-large members Leigh Altman, Yvette Townsend-Ingram and Arthur Griffin Jr., as well as Morris "Mac" McAdoo (District 1), George Dunlap (District 3), Mark Jerrell (District 4), Charles DeLoach (District 5) and Susan Rodriguez-McDowell (District 6). All are Democrats.
Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation
You may vote for TWO.
- 🏛️ Barbara Bleiweis has been chair since 2017 and also chairs the statewide Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
- Michael Betterly says he has a background in business and agriculture.
- Long Tran
- Makenzie Pearce
- Jillian King has suspended her campaign but will still appear on the ballot.
Constitutional Amendments
You may vote FOR or AGAINST.
- Require all voters, not just those presenting to vote in person, to present photo identification before voting.
- Keep the state income tax rate from being raised higher than 3.5%.
- Require limits on property tax increases by local governments.
Go deeper: Breaking down the constitutional amendments
City of Charlotte bonds
Charlotte residents may vote YES or NO.
- $280M Transportation Bonds: Projects involving intersections, parking, pedestrian and bike paths, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drainage, bridges, grade crossings, landscaping, lighting, traffic controls, etc.
- $125M Housing Bonds: Housing projects for the benefit of persons of low income and/or moderate income, such as incentivizing the construction of affordable apartments and down payment assistance.
- $20M Neighborhood Improvement Bonds: Infrastructure projects including storm drainage, sidewalks, pedestrian and bike paths, utilities, streets, public open space, landscaping, lighting, traffic controls, etc.