A round-up of local politics…

First, the official filing period for candidates for the 2026 primary election begins on Dec. 1 and ends at 12 p.m. Dec. 19 with the primary election being March 3, 2026.  

Our readers know who is expected to file, so I’m not going to list all the candidates who’ve announced and are expected to sign the line. 

The Republican congressional race for District 1 is expected to be a crowded field with State Sen. Bobby Hanig, Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck, Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson and Lenoir County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Eric Rouse announcing their intentions so far…

Congressman Don Davis, a Democrat, is expected to file for re-election.  

I hate messy primaries – I think lingering misplaced emotions from sore losers probably cost GOP congressional candidate Laurie Buckhout the November election in 2024 – she came within about 10,000 votes of beating Don Davis – first Republican in generations to come so close.

According to Carolina Journal, The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), chaired by US Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC9, is partnering with the Trump administration to coordinate and execute a recruitment effort to ensure that the district has a viable candidate that can flip the seat. 

“Between redistricting and northeastern North Carolina trending Republican over the past two years, the First District has shifted from D+1 to R+5,” Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity, told the Carolina Journal. “That shift has made Don Davis much more vulnerable. He is on both the DCCC’s ‘Frontline‘ and the NRCC’s initial target lists of vulnerable Democratic congressional incumbents. The 2024 election, when Davis won by less than two percentage points, showed how vulnerable he could be against a strong opponent in 2026.”

Whoever wins the Republican primary, if not too beaten, battered, bruised and broken as a candidate, has a good shot to go toe-to-toe against Davis – as the incumbent, he’ll be a formidable candidate. And it has to be said, Davis should not be lumped with the lunatic fringe of his party as he has a moderate viewpoint on many issues that are important to Northeastern NC. But who knows, maybe Davis will be primaried against some purple-haired, gender-neutral, nose ring type who embraces communism — remember, those are fringe candidates, not rank and file Democrats who, in most cases, are far more level headed.  

I think this congressional race between Davis and the Republican candidate will be one of the hottest races in the nation. I’ve covered “hot” congressional campaigns in the past – I think it will be entertaining – see this clip from the movie “The Campaign.”  

In other news, nothing changed after the November election canvass – everyone who got elected, well, they got elected. Only a few votes separated Plymouth Town Council candidates, but nothing changed there – same with villages and towns near and far. 

State Races

Other news – I saw State Sen candidate Jerry Tillett and State House candidate John Spruill, both Republicans, campaigning together at an event the other day. That kind of alliance makes you think in terms of constituent blocks they can add to each other’s voter outreach across the district.  More about Tillett appears at the end of this story.

A Washington County Commissioner, Spruill has been making the rounds across the District, working hard.

State Rep. Ed Goodwin is expected to sign the line on his re-election bid. He’ll be a formidable candidate – having campaigned across our district since 2018 when he was first elected to the House. Interestingly enough, I covered a speech by NC Secretary of State Elaine Marshall the other day – she narrowly beat Goodwin in a hard fought battle for Secretary of State back in 2012.  

During Marshall’s speech in Gates County, she mentioned Thad Eure, who served as Secretary of State between 1936 and 1989 — dubbed the “oldest rat in the Democratic barn. Hailing from Gates County, Eure was a political legend in Raleigh and certainly Eastern NC. Someone once told me that Eure kicked off his first campaign for Secretary of State with a speech from an outdoor balcony at the Gates County Courthouse – he never forgot his Gates County roots.   

Speaking of the historic Gates courthouse – I know it was renovated and restored a few years back because I wrote a story about that. I got to say – looks nice now that all the dust has settled, the paint dried – great place for a commission meeting.   

Gates County Commissioner John Forsythe is exploring whether to run for state senate — see our story here. He is sharp as a tack – fiscally conservative, cares about the community. Whether or not Forsythe runs for state senate, I think Gates County is well served by him asking tough questions about some of the issues facing our cousins to the north.   

Jay Lane of Elizabeth City is another Republican candidate for state senate. I got to admit, other than what I’ve read, I don’t much about him.

Words of Thanks

Here are words of thanks from Craig Miller and Aaron Coston who won reelection to their seats on Edenton Town Council. 

From Councilman Miller — “I wish to take this opportunity to personally thank all of the voters of the Edenton community for re-electing me to a third term in office as one of your town councilmen at-large. I am deeply grateful and humbled by your confidence in me. Winning this election is not just a personal achievement but a collective victory. I am deeply honored to have your trust and support. I also wish to thank my financial contributors and campaign committee for their resources and energy. Your devotion and dedication to my campaign has been truly inspiring.” 

From Councilman Coston: 

As this campaign chapter comes to a close, I want to take a moment to sincerely thank each and every one of you who walked with me through this journey. Whether you donated, volunteered, knocked doors, made phone calls, prayed, encouraged, shared posts, or simply believed in me — I want you to know your support meant everything to me.

Running for office is not something you do alone. It is something you do with a community behind you. I am grateful for every conversation, every message, every handshake at a grocery store, and every person who took the time to listen.

This campaign was built on hope, service, and a belief that our voices matter — and because of you, we proved that a community can stand together and fight for change with dignity, heart, and purpose.

To my family — thank you. Thank you for every sign you placed, every door you knocked, every conversation you had on my behalf, and every person you helped get to the polls. Thank you for believing in my vision, trusting the purpose behind why I ran, and standing with me through each step of this campaign. Your support, sacrifice, and love were the foundation that held me together — and I could not have walked this journey without you.

To my incredible donors: thank you. Your belief, your generosity, and your willingness to invest in this mission made this possible. Every contribution — large or small — directly fueled our ability to connect with voters, show up in every community, and compete at the highest level. This win wasn’t just a win for a campaign — it was a win for the people we serve. I am deeply grateful for your trust, and I will work every single day to honor the belief you placed in me. Our work is just beginning — and I look forward to continuing this fight together.

John and Colleen — thank you both so much for your unwavering support throughout this entire election process. Every single call you answered, every event you helped organize, every late night planning session, and every fundraising lift truly mattered more than words can express. You showed up consistently, you stepped in wherever the need was, and you helped carry so much weight behind the scenes. I’m extremely grateful for both of you — this journey would not have looked the same without your commitment, support, and belief.

I also want to take a moment to thank my opponent, Haywood, for his willingness to step forward, run, and serve our community. I truly appreciate his commitment to running a clean, respectful race focused on issues — not division — and the way we were able to maintain mutual respect and friendship throughout this campaign. Ultimately, we both care deeply about the people we represent, and I’m grateful we were able to demonstrate that this process can be competitive without being destructive. I look forward to continuing to work together for the good of our community.

The work begins now.

I will wake up every day with the mindset of a servant — to listen, to learn, and to govern for ALL of us. Our campaign was powered by people — and that will never change.

Let’s make this next chapter one we’ll look back on and be proud of… because we built it together.

I remain committed to continuing the work, advocating for our community, and serving in ways that uplift, empower, and unite us.

Thank you for trusting me with your time, your energy, and your belief in a better future. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to represent you, stand with you, and be part of something bigger than all of us.

State Senate Watch

MANTEO — Thursday evening, there was a packed campaign fundraiser for Jerry Tillett, a candidate for North Carolina Senate District 1 at the historic Burrus House.

Supporters filled the historic waterfront venue until organizers opened the second floor to accommodate the swelling crowd. Even then, dozens remained outside in the parking lot, hoping to catch a glimpse or listen through open doors. The location—known for its wraparound porches, broad water views, and coastal charm—provided a fitting backdrop for a campaign built around heritage, community identity, and public accountability.

Tillett opened the event by stressing that his bid for the state Senate is not driven by personal ambition or the lure of political influence. He framed the Albemarle region as long underserved and underrepresented in Raleigh, insisting that his campaign centers on the needs and voices of the people who live and work there. He distanced himself from what he described as Raleigh insiders and fast-paced political influencers, saying his priorities lie with local watermen, farmers, small business owners, and community stakeholders rather than with major donors or party power brokers.

Throughout the evening, Tillett emphasized that although he has received little backing from the conservative establishment, he remains firmly committed to core conservative principles—so long as those principles do not harm the region’s industries. He described a willingness to oppose any policy or political effort that threatens the livelihoods tied to the Albemarle’s longstanding working traditions. Protecting local economies, preserving cultural heritage, and ensuring families can sustain themselves generation after generation were recurring themes in his remarks.

Tillett also highlighted his 33-year tenure as a judge, presenting it as a foundation for understanding the region’s challenges. His experience on the bench, he said, has given him a firsthand view of the human costs of substance abuse, the tension in civil disputes involving small businesses, and the pressures faced by families throughout the district. He argued that such insight gives him a clear sense of what needs repair and how policy might address systemic issues. His message to supporters underscored that few candidates have seen the consequences of policy failures as directly as he has from the courtroom perspective.

The candidate outlined several shared concerns across the district’s 10 counties, describing them as interconnected issues that require regional cooperation. Among them: regulatory burdens that hinder business growth, underutilized ports and rail lines that could otherwise support economic expansion, and missed opportunities to attract manufacturing and light industry from the nearby Tidewater region. He also pointed to rising insurance costs, infrastructure vulnerabilities along the NC Highway 12 corridor, and uneven support for public safety initiatives. Though each county may require localized strategies, he argued that the overall problems are common enough to demand a unified approach.

Tillett’s message frequently returned to history, drawing on stories of early settlers who endured shipwrecks, harsh weather, and rugged terrain. He invoked ancestors who washed ashore on rum barrels or who left the Outer Banks to establish farms inland, noting their self-reliance and resilience. Those early residents, he said, built their lives and communities without waiting for government support. He described that spirit as still present in the region’s people and framed his campaign as an effort to echo that determination and independence in modern governance.

The event concluded on a lighter note when Tillett asked the crowd whether he should continue wearing his well-worn “lucky hat” on the campaign trail. The enthusiastic, unified response from supporters made clear their feeling on the matter.

As the night came to a close, attendees were left with a portrait of Tillett as a candidate shaped by decades of judicial experience, grounded decision-making, and a commitment to advocating for the Albemarle region. His message focused on steady leadership rooted in the lived realities of the communities he hopes to represent. Supporters left with the sense that his campaign aims to elevate local voices and defend the region’s economic and cultural foundations. For more information about the campaign, residents can visit TillettForSenate.com.