Dozens of North Carolina politicians and political hopefuls flocked to the state fairgrounds in Raleigh Monday for the start of the 2026 candidate filing period.
Over the next two-plus weeks even more candidates will throw their hat in the ring, as next year’s midterm elections will offer voters te chance to elect offices ranging from Congress to state courts, county commissions, the state legislature, sheriffs’ offices and more.
Two of the most-watched races nationally are expected to be in North Carolina: The U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis’ fight to remain in Congress despite a newly drawn map that Republican state legislators have said is explicitly intended to gerrymander him out of power and replace him with a Republican.
At the national level, Democratic and Republican members of Congress painted opposing pictures of what’s at stake for their parties as the 2026 elections are expected to give Democrats the chance to flip back control of the U.S. House of Representatives from the GOP.
For U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Southern Pines Republican, keeping control of the House will allow his party to continue its focus on immigration. For U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee, a Hillsborough Democrat, flipping the House will allow her party to focus on fighting rising health care costs.