Updated as of 12:22 a.m. to include election results.
Republican Michael C. Byrne and Democrat Christine Marie Walczyk won their respective parties’ races for Judge Seat 1 and Judge Seat 3 of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the March 3 primary election.
In the race for Seat 1, Byrne received 51.54% of votes statewide, defeating Matt Smith. For Seat 3, Walczyk received 62.35% of the statewide vote, defeating James Weldon Whalen and earning a seat. 
In Alamance County, Bryne received 51.91% of votes and Walczyk received 66.23%.
None of the candidates were available for Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
--Emma Perman
Updated as of 12:14 a.m. to include Election Day coverage.
As the 2026 primary elections come to an end in North Carolina, eyes are turning towards November. But for many races, the primary elections are the determining factor in the race, according to Elon University political science professor Jason Husser.
“For many local races, both in Alamance County as well as throughout the state, winning the primary is oftentimes equivalent to winning the general,” Husser said. “Doesn't put them in office, but it does set them up for a high probability of winning the general. That can come about because of one party being very strong in a particular area, or occasionally when there's nobody running on the other side.”
Husser also said campaigning sometimes is more present in primaries than the general election in some local elections where the district is expected to always go to one party.
Alamance County’s big ticket race was the Republican primary for sheriff where incumbent Terry Johnson won the primary, securing 57.18% of the vote. He defeated opponents Billy Clayton and Dana Byrd Pasour. Johnson will have an easy bid for reelection in November because of a lack of a Democratic primary.
For more election results coverage click the link.
--Miles Hayford
Updated as of 11:48 p.m. to include Election Day coverage.
After polls closed on election night, sealed ballot bags, memory drives, and paper tapes began arriving at the Alamance County Board of Elections office, where officials prepared to count the results.
At 8:05 p.m., the first election judge pulled into the parking lot. Within 10 minutes, a line stretched behind them as precinct workers waited to check in provisional ballots and hand over the materials that would determine the night’s outcome.
As the poll workers rolled in, they first dropped off their provisional ballots with Nichole Matherly, the registration coordinator for Alamance County.
“I'll be at the provisional table,” Matherly said. “So the people that were at the wrong precinct or had some issues for some reason had to vote a provisional ballot.”
For more Election Day coverage click the link.
--Lily Mosbacher
Updated as of 11:36 p.m. to include election results.
Army veteran Richard Ojeda has won the Democratic nomination for North Carolina Congressional District 9 with 41.79% of the vote, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. He will face off against incumbent Republican Richard Hudson in the general election this fall.
Nigel Bristow received 26.72% of the vote, Loren Bibler received 15.75% and Lent Carr II received 15.74%.
According to his website, Ojeda’s major campaign issues include fighting for veterans, protecting education, ensuring quality healthcare and investing in working families in North Carolina.
He was raised in West Virginia and represented the 7th district of the state senate from 2017 to 2019.
Bristow reflected on the election and expressed confidence in the voters.
“It was a democratic process,” Bristow said. “The voters made their decision. They got to decide in this primary who they wanted to put their faith and belief in, and who they trusted.”
He said going into the midterm elections in November, it is important for people to engage with democracy to make their voices heard.
“We’re living in dangerous times with so much at risk, including democracy and the very safety of every American,” Bristow said. “It’s important that we become civically engaged and make sure that we participate fully in our elections because at the end of the day, it’s the people that can decide the outcome of what happens with our democracy simply by using their voice and their vote.”
Bibler said he was proud of the campaign he ran, especially as a first-time candidate. He also expressed support for Ojeda and plans to help in his campaign against Hudson.
“I fully endorse Richard Ojeda and I will be hitting the campaign trail,” Bibler said. “It is important for us to get the younger generation involved and I really hope that I can be a catalyst to turn out the millennial and Gen Z population for Ojeda come this November.”
The campaigns of Richard Ojeda and Lent Carr II did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
--Kate Gray
Updated as of 10:32 p.m. to include election results.
Democrats Ramona Allen and Sean Ewing have secured their seats for the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. Allen earned 46.97% of the vote and Ewing earned 40.60%.
Allen said she is happy about the results and is ready for Alamance to grow.
“I’m optimistic about what Alamance County is getting ready to turn for,” Allen said.
Ewing said it was a great primary and he’s happy about how big the turnout was.
“I want to say that we were several times larger than the 2022 primary, so that's great,” Ewing said.
The four candidates will be running for election in November.
Kelly Allen and Steve Carter have earned the Republican nomination for the Alamance County Board of Commissioners. Allen earned 30.59% of the vote while Carter earned 28.55%, beating out candidates Jeff Throneburg, Henry Vines and Peter Boykin.
Allen, Carter, Throneburg and Vines did not answer Elon News Network’s request for comment.
“I’m actually satisfied,” Boykin said. “This was kind of to keep my name on the ballot and get my name out there, kind of a filler before the next election.”
Boykin earned 5.47% of the vote, and said he is planning on running for County Commissioner again next cycle and wants to start campaigning next spring or summer.
He said he was pleasantly surprised about how many votes he got, but was more disappointed by the results of the Alamance County Sheriff race than his own.
-- Abby Gravely and Mia Torres
Updated as of 10:10 p.m. to include election results.
Republican incumbent Kristie Miller Culler won the nomination for Clerk of Superior Court over Republican Steve McGilvray, taking home 73.40% of the vote. Culler will run for NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1.
-- Alannah Klingsporn and Alice Morrissey
Updated as of 10:08 p.m. to include election results.
Incumbent Terry Johnson has won the Republican primary race for Alamance County Sheriff, securing 57.18% of the vote. Johnson has served as the sheriff for the past 24 years.
Opponents Billy Clayton and Dana Byrd Pasour got 42.17% and 0.65% of the vote, respectively.
There was not a Democratic primary for sheriff, setting up Johnson to easily win his bid for reelection in November.
Pasour said she was disappointed in Alamance County for missing out on an “awesome” opportunity.
“Alamance County missed out on an excellent candidate in Billy Clayton,” Pasour said. “He is a good Christian man, as far as I can tell, and he's a very sharp man. And unfortunately, Mr. Johnson has passed his prime.”
Johnson and Clayton did not respond to Elon News Network’s immediate request for comment.
--Miles Hayford
Updated as of 12:22 p.m. to include comments on election results.
Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is the projected winner for the U.S. Senate Democratic nomination according to The Associated Press.
The AP also projected former chair of the Republican National Committee, Michael Whatley, as the U.S. Senate Republican nominee.
As of 9:19 p.m., 30 of the 39 precincts in Alamance County are reported according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Statewide, 1398 out of 2633 of precincts, a bit over half of the state, have been reported.
According to a press release from Cooper’s campaign, Cooper accepted the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate.
“I’m humbled and excited to accept the Democratic nomination to become the next United States Senator from the great state of North Carolina,” Cooper said in the press release. “We know our work in this race is just beginning.”
Cooper mentioned rising costs can be seen across the states for groceries, utilities and health care.
“I’m running for Senate to be an independent voice for North Carolinians, and I’ll work with anyone to make stuff cost less for families in our state,” Cooper said.
Micheal Whatley accepted the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
In his victory speech earlier this evening, Whatley said he is happy to see so many North Carolinians working hard to support his campaign.
“None of this happens without you,” said Whatley.
Whatley thanked his wife Suzzane and his children Micheal, George and Mary Kate for being there for him during the process.
“I also want to thank the grassroots conservatives, volunteers and voters across this state who knocked doors, made calls, said prayers and helped turn this campaign into a movement,” Whatley said.
Whatley said he’s grateful for Trump's endorsement throughout the race.
“His leadership has changed our country, and I am proud to stand with him in the fight to secure our border, to strengthen our economy and put America first,” Whatley said.
— Charlotte Pfabe and Mia Torres
Updated as of 9:16 p.m. to include information about election night.
As the last few voters trickled into Elon Elementary School’s polling location, Scott Gaither’s very long day came to an end.
Gaither arrived at the school when polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and stood out on the sidewalk encouraging voters to cast ballots for Billy Clayton.
“He’s had a great career in law enforcement and I’d like to see him continue that as sheriff,” Gaither said.
Clayton is running for Alamance County Sheriff. He’s one of two Republicans running against Terry Johnson, who has held the office since 2002. This is Johnson’s first time running against another Republican in the primaries.
Gaither worked as a captain in Sheriff Terry Johnson’s office until 2023, when he was let go for timecard discrepancies.
While the day was long, Gaither said it turned out well.
“It’s been a lot of great turnout and a lot of great support,” Gaither said.
Of that turnout, Gaither said demographics have been all over the map, but he said most voters were over the age of 50.
Polls closed at 7:30 p.m. in Alamance County.
-- Abby Gravely
Updated as of 7:31 p.m. to include information about election night.
Polling locations closed across Alamance County at 7:30 p.m. If voters were in-line to vote before 7:30 p.m. they are still able to cast their ballots.
--Trista Panagakos
Updated as of 7:07 p.m. to include candidate comments on election night.
Alamance County Sheriff candidate Billy Clayton said he spent the day visiting as many polls as he could, checking in on voters and poll workers. Clayton said that he felt positive going out to the polls and is glad that his campaign has brought attention to important issues.
Clayton, a retired state highway patrol commander, said he isn’t sure how confident he is about election results, but feels good about what his campaign has done.
“It's hard to put a gauge on it,” Clayton said. “I feel positive that we're doing what we're supposed to do, and we've worked hard. My whole team has worked very hard, and the people of Alamance County have come out and have spoken, so we'll see what they say.”
Clayton and his campaign will be watching the results come in at the Burlington Shrine Club tonight.
“It's not just a watch party, it's a celebration of all my volunteers and campaign workers,” Clayton said. “We're really celebrating everybody that's been involved.”
--Miles Hayford
Richard N. Ojeda II, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, will take on incumbent Republican Rep. Richard Hudson if he wins the Democratic primary. Ojeda’s spokesperson Randy Jones said that the main emotions surrounding the team on election night is a sense of pride.
“This team will not be outworked, and we feel very confident that we've done everything that we can to meet the moment, to meet the voters where they are, to have the conversations that you need to have, to be a good representative,” Jones said.
Democrat Lent C. Carr II is running to represent District 9 in the U.S. House of Representatives and has kept busy on election day moving from precinct to precinct throughout the district. He said the day has been grueling, but also exhilarating.
“It’s a good opportunity to speak with the citizenry and just to hear the things that they're concerned about,” Carr said.
Carr added that the nerves of the day have not affected him.
“I really had no nervousness, because I was quite confident in my platform,” Carr said. “I believe that I put together the best platform of all of my contenders.”
Nigel W. Bristow also spent the day out on the campaign trail visiting polling sites all throughout District 9. He is campaigning to be the Democratic candidate in November. He says that as the day wraps up, he hopes that he connected with as much of the community as he could.
“As a candidate, you know your primary mission is to get your message out and to be able to connect with the voters,” Bristow said. “So at the end of the day, I'm hoping that that paid off, and it pays off with a victory at the ballot box.”
--Alice Morrissey
Robert Colon, a Democrat, is running for U.S. Senate and said he is hopeful but it’s still hard to tell what results will look like.
Colon is among the six candidates running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Colon said voter turnout looked light when he visited the polls this morning around 9 a.m. He said he was the only candidate at the polls campaigning at that time.
“I'm surprised that there aren't that many people,” Colon said. “From what I could see, I was the only candidate talking to voters, handing out flyers. One of the polling places I've been to, because I ran a couple of times before, always had other candidates there. That wasn't the case today when I was there.”
Colon said that if voters are still unsure about his platform, they should know it’s based on the U.S. Constitution.
“I've just, you know, reiterated the importance of the Constitution,” Colon said. “That's what has been the center of everything in my campaign.”
— Charlotte Pfabe and Lily Mosbacher
Updated as of 6:54 p.m. to include more information about Election Day.
The North Carolina primary election started bright and early when polls opened at 6:30 a.m. and voters cast ballots for their candidates. However, talk of Election Day was quiet in the Town of Elon.
Vivian Splawn, Burlington resident and employee at All That Jas, said she was disappointed not to see people in line to vote in the election, as she went to cast her ballot.
“It's really sad that there's such a low turnout when you go there and you don't have to wait in line, but that's just how it is,” Splawn said. “And on the bigger ones, sometimes it's like that too.”
For more Election Day coverage click the link.
--Fiona McAllister
Updated as of 6:22 p.m. to include candidate comments on election night.
Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson, who is running for re-election after 24 years as sheriff, said he spent the day at the polls talking to voters. He said he spent a few hours shaking hands and answering any questions voters had.
“I believe in seeing the citizens themselves as they come through and a lot to learn from the public, just open your ears,” Johnson said.
Johnson said that he feels good and it could be as close as “60-40.” He said the main thing that his opponent Billy Clayton has used against him is his age. Johnson is 75 years old.
“The only thing that they seem to use against me was the fact that of my age, and I can tell you this, I'm just as good as shape was when I was probably 30 years old,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he will be spending election night watching results come in with supporters at the Best Western hotel in Burlington with a watch party and a live band.
--Miles Hayford
Court of Appeals Democratic candidate Christine Walczyk said in a written statement to Elon News Network she was appreciative of the turnout of today's elections. Walczyk also stated how she believes these turn outs are a positive sign for the future.
“Today I am hopeful for our future. The strong voter turnout across our state shows that people care deeply about the judiciary and the direction we are headed.” Walczyk wrote. “I was especially moved to see first-time voters casting their ballots and older residents doing everything they could to make it to the polls, a powerful reminder that civic duty spans generations. I am especially grateful for the dedicated poll workers and volunteers who gave their time and energy to ensure every voice is heard.”
-- Alannah Klingsporn
Ramona Allen is running for Alamance County Commissioner. She is one of three Democratic candidates running for two spots on November's ballot.
Allen said she has spent the day campaigning at polls across the county.
“If we continue to push the positivity, I think that we're going to see that change we need to see in Alamance County,” Allen said.
Allen said that she has been sharing her campaign messaging with unaffiliated and undecided voters and that some voters had come to her after casting their ballots to let her know she had their vote.
“We got to stay true to who we are and what we say. That's what people are looking for,” Allen said.
As voting continues across the county, Allen said she remains positive that candidates who will make change will be elected.
-- Lily Mosbacher
U.S. Senate Republican primary candidate Donald Brown said he has spent Election Day criss-crossing the state, meeting voters in multiple counties. Brown is running against five other Republican candidates, including Michael Whatley, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
Brown said his campaign has outworked his competitors.
“We feel like we have given this thing the very best shot we can and continue to do so should we move on after tonight,” Brown said.
Brown said he has run an issue-oriented campaign that North Carolinians have responded to.
“North Carolina Republicans have an opportunity to fire what we call the first shot of the second American Revolution, to take the Congress and the Senate back for we the people,” Brown said.
Richard Dansie is running in the U.S. Senate Republican primary for North Carolina’s open Senate seat. The winner of this primary will face off against the winner of the Democratic primary in the general election in November.
Dansie said he is trying to have realistic expectations for election results. He said he has been reaching voters through his website and by completing voter guides.
“I'd like to think that the voting public will not just keep doing the same things that they're doing, because they're voting for institutional candidates and politicians and lawyers and the same thing that have got us to where we are,” Dansie said. “I'd like to think that we could do something different, but I'm not convinced that’s going to happen.”
Dansie said if voters want different results from their government, they need to change the inputs.
-- Trista Panagakos
Updated as of 5:19 p.m. to include more information about the election.
North Carolina election results will be delayed until 8:30 p.m. after an electronic issue in Halifax County, according to a press release by the NC State Board of Elections.
A voting site in the county sustained issues with electronic poll books, forcing the NCSBE to extend voting there by an hour. Elsewhere in the state, polls will close at 7:30 but state law dictates that results cannot be posted while voting is going on somewhere else in the state.
The NCSBOE said minor issues are not uncommon on Election Day, and that a large number of results are expected to be posted at 8:30 p.m.
--Miles Hayford
Updated as of 3:13 p.m. March 3 to include more information about the election.
Students looking to cast their ballots on Election Day will have transportation available through a shuttle service organized by Elon Votes.
On Tuesday March 3, a shuttle will run from The Center for the Arts to two polling locations in Alamance County: Elon Elementary School and First Baptist Church of Elon.
Andrew Moffa, assistant director in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and co-staff advisor for Elon Votes, said the goal is to remove transportation as a barrier.
“Our goal is to make voting as accessible as possible for everyone associated with Elon, especially our students,” Moffa said. “We know that transportation can be a barrier, so this is our way to help remove that barrier for students who are registered to vote in the county and would like to vote on Election Day.”
For more Election Day coverage click the link.
--Mia Torres
Updated as of 12:20 p.m. March 3 to include more information about the election.
The North Carolina primary election starts today. With some voters being able to vote for a Democratic or Republican candidate, unaffiliated voters will have a different experience at the polls on election day.
Unaffiliated voters can pick one party’s primary or choose a nonpartisan ballot. Voting in a party primary doesn’t change their unaffiliated status, and their choice carries into any runoff.
In North Carolina, a runoff or second primaries are not automatic; it must be requested by a second-place candidate, and the first-place candidate must have received less than 30% of the votes cast. North Carolina’s reserved date for a second primary is May 12.
According to the Alamance County Board of Elections, unaffiliated voters will be asked at the polling place to declare the party they would like to vote for in the primary election. If there is a second primary for this election, the voter must vote for the party declared in the first primary.
For more primary day coverage click the link.
--Alannah Klingsporn
Polls across North Carolina opened at 6:30 a.m. March 3 for the 2026 midterm primary elections.
In Alamance County, registered Democrats can vote for one candidate each for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives District 9 and NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3, and two candidates for Alamance County Board of Commissioners.
Registered Republicans can vote for one candidate for the U.S. Senate, NC Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1, Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court and Alamance County Sheriff, and two candidates for Alamance County Board of Commissioners.
Chips Chapman, chief judge for the North Boone voting precinct, said he had been at the First Baptist Church of Elon voting location since 5:30 a.m. and expects to be there after polls close at 7:30 p.m.
“We have a responsibility. Yesterday afternoon, we set up the site and we were here to get things up and running early this morning,” Chapman said. “We turn on the machines, and after the polls close, shut everything down securely, tabulate the results, pack up the materials and take them to the Board of Elections office in Graham.”
Chapman has worked as an election official for over 20 years and said his favorite part of the job is helping the public perform their civic duty.
“Being able to help the public vote and be part of the democratic process of choosing elected officials,” Chapman said. “And doing the best that we can to treat everyone fairly and equally and help resolve any issues somebody may have about voting and make sure that they are able to make their choices with their wishes known.”
Voters at the First Baptist Church of Elon expressed the need to vote in the primary and midterm elections, even if they might not feel as significant as presidential elections. Leah Bass, a job coach at Western High School, said voting is an important way for constituents to have their voices heard.
“A lot of people think that it doesn’t matter, but I think that it does matter that we have the candidates we want in the major elections,” Bass said. “We don’t get that if we don't vote in the smaller elections.”
Voter Thomas Gahm said he was motivated by increasing political polarization.
“Voting is very important, especially in our time,” Gahm said. “At the moment, America is basically half and half. I want to go with the right way, which, in my opinion, is the democratic way. I don’t want to have another king here.”
Like Bass, he believes voting is a civic duty and Americans have a responsibility to take part in the democratic process.
“There’s a lot of people, our ancestors, who died for the liberty to be able to vote,” Gahm said. “You shouldn’t just throw it away and sit at home and not do anything, you know, I think that is just the wrong attitude.”
Polls close at 7:30 p.m. in North Carolina.
-- Kate Gray