Last Updated on March 3, 2026 9:28 pm
Polls closed Tuesday evening in the 2026 North Carolina Primary Election. The NC State Board of Elections delayed the release of results statewide after extending voting by one hour at a Halifax County precinct. Below are unofficial results for races in Watauga, Ashe, and Avery counties as reported by the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Last updated: 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – All precincts reporting in all three counties
Watauga County
All 20 of 20 precincts reporting – 7,249 ballots cast (16.39% turnout)
County Commission District 2 – Democratic Primary
Ray Russell – 51.36% (605 votes) ✓
David Luther – 48.64% (573 votes)
Clerk of Superior Court – Democratic Primary
Holly Fehl – 86.30% (3,932 votes) ✓
Jon Fullen – 13.70% (624 votes)
Board of Education District 1
Ellen Lamont – 57.49% (476 votes) ✓ Advances
Yolanda Adams – 28.38% (235 votes) ✓ Advances
Carrie McClain – 14.13% (117 votes)
Board of Education District 4
Megan (Chayyim) Kornhauser – 45.46% (686 votes) ✓ Advances
Chad Cole – 43.14% (651 votes) ✓ Advances
Betsy Rosenbalm – 8.22% (124 votes)
David Aaron Grig – 3.18% (48 votes)
Ashe County
All 17 of 17 precincts reporting – 5,938 ballots cast (28.95% turnout)
Board of Commissioners – Republican Primary (Vote for 3)
Mike Eldreth – 25.95% (3,048 votes) ✓
Todd A. McNeill – 25.72% (3,021 votes) ✓
Jerry D. Powers – 24.49% (2,877 votes) ✓
Derek Calhoun – 23.84% (2,801 votes)
Sheriff – Republican Primary
B. Phil Howell – 55.53% (2,625 votes) ✓
Brandon Shepherd – 39.05% (1,846 votes)
Earl Cox – 5.42% (256 votes)
Board of Education – Republican Primary (Vote for 3)
Dianne Eldreth – 30.95% (3,305 votes) ✓
Janet Ward – 26.22% (2,800 votes) ✓
Shane E. Little – 21.63% (2,310 votes) ✓
Wes Calbreath – 21.21% (2,265 votes)
Avery County
All 19 of 19 precincts reporting – 3,294 ballots cast (26.59% turnout)
Board of Commissioners – Republican Primary (Vote for 3)
Dennis Aldridge – 20.90% (1,419 votes) ✓
Robert Burleson – 17.51% (1,189 votes) ✓
Jason Grindstaff – 15.99% (1,086 votes) ✓
Robin Ollis – 12.89% (875 votes)
Martha Jaynes Hicks – 11.61% (788 votes)
Chris Lyerly – 10.52% (714 votes)
Dillon S. Gentry – 6.38% (433 votes)
Keisha Young – 4.21% (286 votes)
Clerk of Superior Court – Republican Primary
Teresa I. Benfield – 79.39% (2,088 votes) ✓
Linda Webb – 20.61% (542 votes)
Board of Education (Vote for 2)
Lan Holtsclaw – 27.54% (1,563 votes) ✓
Coleman Bailey – 22.80% (1,294 votes) ✓
Randy Singleton – 19.37% (1,099 votes)
Patricia (Pat) Edwards – 16.26% (923 votes)
Trey Oakley – 13.81% (784 votes)
U.S. Senate – High Country Results
U.S. Senate – Democratic Primary
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Roy Cooper – 93.16% (4,455 votes)
Justin E. Dues – 3.79% (181 votes)
Marcus W. Williams – 1.28% (61 votes)
Daryl Farrow – 0.73% (35 votes)
Robert Colon – 0.52% (25 votes)
Orrick Quick – 0.52% (25 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Roy Cooper – 93.13% (1,071 votes)
Marcus W. Williams – 2.61% (30 votes)
Justin E. Dues – 1.74% (20 votes)
Daryl Farrow – 1.30% (15 votes)
Orrick Quick – 0.78% (9 votes)
Robert Colon – 0.43% (5 votes)
Avery County (19 of 19 precincts):
Roy Cooper – 94.41% (490 votes)
Justin E. Dues – 2.70% (14 votes)
Daryl Farrow – 0.96% (5 votes)
Marcus W. Williams – 0.96% (5 votes)
Robert Colon – 0.58% (3 votes)
Orrick Quick – 0.39% (2 votes)
U.S. Senate – Republican Primary
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Michael Whatley – 68.08% (1,591 votes)
Donald M. (Don) Brown – 11.38% (266 votes)
Thomas Johnson – 6.38% (149 votes)
Michele Morrow – 5.82% (136 votes)
Elizabeth A. Temple – 3.72% (87 votes)
Richard Dansie – 3.34% (78 votes)
Margot Dupre – 1.28% (30 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Michael Whatley – 61.98% (2,581 votes)
Thomas Johnson – 10.98% (457 votes)
Donald M. (Don) Brown – 10.18% (424 votes)
Michele Morrow – 6.24% (260 votes)
Elizabeth A. Temple – 4.71% (196 votes)
Margot Dupre – 3.19% (133 votes)
Richard Dansie – 2.71% (113 votes)
Avery County (19 of 19 precincts):
Michael Whatley – 71.19% (1,596 votes)
Donald M. (Don) Brown – 8.39% (188 votes)
Thomas Johnson – 7.31% (164 votes)
Michele Morrow – 4.59% (103 votes)
Elizabeth A. Temple – 3.57% (80 votes)
Margot Dupre – 2.54% (57 votes)
Richard Dansie – 2.41% (54 votes)
U.S. House – High Country Results
U.S. House District 5 – Republican Primary
(Watauga and Ashe counties)
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Virginia Foxx – 70.29% (1,689 votes)
Joseph (Joey) Osborne – 11.99% (288 votes)
Steve Girard – 10.99% (264 votes)
Roman H. (Chad) Williams II – 6.74% (162 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Virginia Foxx – 71.51% (3,293 votes)
Steve Girard – 13.16% (606 votes)
Joseph (Joey) Osborne – 9.90% (456 votes)
Roman H. (Chad) Williams II – 5.43% (250 votes)
U.S. House District 5 – Democratic Primary
(Watauga and Ashe counties)
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Chuck Hubbard – 70.28% (3,277 votes)
Kyah Creekmore – 29.72% (1,386 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Chuck Hubbard – 65.37% (723 votes)
Kyah Creekmore – 34.63% (383 votes)
U.S. House District 11 – Republican Primary
(Avery County – 19 of 19 precincts)
Chuck Edwards – 73.12% (1,572 votes)
Adam R. Smith – 26.88% (578 votes)
U.S. House District 11 – Democratic Primary
(Avery County – 19 of 19 precincts)
Jamie Ager – 43.79% (201 votes)
Zelda Briarwood – 20.92% (96 votes)
Richard Hudspeth – 16.78% (77 votes)
Paul Maddox – 15.69% (72 votes)
Lee Whipple – 2.83% (13 votes)
Judicial Races – High Country Results
NC District Court Judge District 35 Seat 1 – Republican Primary
(Watauga and Avery counties)
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Eric F. Eller – 73.38% (1,555 votes)
S. Justin Ray – 26.62% (564 votes)
Avery County (19 of 19 precincts):
S. Justin Ray – 55.45% (1,205 votes)
Eric F. Eller – 44.55% (968 votes)
NC District Court Judge District 34 Seat 2 – Republican Primary
(Ashe County – 17 of 17 precincts)
Andrew Warren – 73.64% (2,925 votes)
Kellie Southard Myers – 26.36% (1,047 votes)
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1 – Republican Primary
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
Matt Smith – 54.10% (1,128 votes)
Michael C. Byrne – 45.90% (957 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Michael C. Byrne – 59.41% (2,216 votes)
Matt Smith – 40.59% (1,514 votes)
Avery County (19 of 19 precincts):
Matt Smith – 50.30% (932 votes)
Michael C. Byrne – 49.70% (921 votes)
NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3 – Democratic Primary
Watauga County (20 of 20 precincts):
James Weldon Whalen – 61.86% (2,822 votes)
Christine Marie Walczyk – 38.14% (1,740 votes)
Ashe County (17 of 17 precincts):
Christine Marie Walczyk – 65.27% (716 votes)
James Weldon Whalen – 34.73% (381 votes)
Avery County (19 of 19 precincts):
Christine Marie Walczyk – 65.49% (298 votes)
James Weldon Whalen – 34.51% (157 votes)
These are unofficial results and may change as provisional and absentee ballots are counted. Official results will be certified by the county boards of elections following the canvass process.
Results source: North Carolina State Board of Elections
