The Outer Banks’ 2026 local election results
A sign guides voters at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Corinne Saunders)
By Corinne Saunders
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The results of select local races in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, election for Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties, according to preliminary state results, are as follows. Some of the local races have additional write-in candidates who are not named in the preliminary state results. For statewide results, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. For national results, visit The Associated Press website.
Each of the three proposed amendments to the state Constitution passed statewide and with significant local majorities.
In both Currituck and Dare counties, voters rejected proposed local sales use and tax referendums. In Currituck, 34.58% of voters cast ballots for the measure and 65.42% voted against it. In Dare County, 38.29% of voters cast ballots for the referendum, and 61.71% voted against it. A proposed local sales use and tax referendum in Hyde County failed during the March primary.
According to state records, North Carolina saw slightly higher voter turnout in this year’s midterm elections compared to during the 2022 midterms, with 53.46% of registered voters casting ballots this year, compared to 51.14% four years ago.
Locally, only Dare County saw an increase in voter turnout percentages from the 2022 midterms, with 58.27% of registered voters casting ballots this year, compared to 56.19% in 2022. Currituck’s voter turnout percentage was nearly the same, going from 50.9% in 2022 to 50.6% this year; while Hyde County saw a slight decline, going from 60.79% in 2022 to 58.48% this year.
U.S. Senate
Democratic candidate Roy Cooper won the U.S. Senate seat with 58.7% of the vote, compared to 39.1% of the vote going to Republican candidate Michael Whatley, 1.33% going to Libertarian candidate Shannon W. Bray and 0.87% going to Green Party candidate Michael Green.
Among local counties, Cooper narrowly lost in Dare, receiving 49.31% of the vote to Whatley’s 48.17%. Cooper also lost Currituck and Hyde to Whatley, with 32.4% and 45.76% of the vote, respectively, to Whatley’s 65.05% and 51.89%.
Bray did slightly better on the Outer Banks than in the rest of the state, receiving 1.61% of the vote in both Currituck and Dare, and 1.58% in Hyde. Dublin received 0.94% of the vote in Currituck, 0.91% in Dare and 0.77% in Hyde.
U.S. House of Representatives District 1
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis narrowly defeated Republican candidate Laurie Buckhout, receiving 49.64% and 47.15% of the vote, respectively. Libertarian Tom Bailey received 3.21% of the vote.
Locally, Davis narrowly lost in Hyde and in Dare, receiving 47.28% and 46.36% of the vote, respectively, to Buckhout’s 48.62% and 49.98%, respectively. Davis lost solidly to Buckhout in Currituck, receiving 31.32% of the vote, compared to to 64.86%.
Bailey received 4.1% of the vote in Hyde, 3.82% in Currituck and 3.66% in Dare.
N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 1
Incumbent Democratic Justice Anita Earls was reelected to North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Seat 1 over Republican candidate Sarah Stevens, with 58.85% of the vote compared to 41.15%.
Earls lost in each of the local counties, receiving 47.91% of the vote in Dare, 47.21% in Hyde and 32.28% in Currituck, to Stevens’ 52.09%, 52.79% and 67.72%, respectively.
N.C. State Senate District 1
Voters on Tuesday elected recently appointed Sen. Jerry Tillett (R-Dare) to the North Carolina Senate District 1 over Democratic challenger Melissa Zehner of Dare County, with 54.01% of the vote, compared to 45.99%.
Locally, Tillett won Currituck with 68.72% of the vote and Dare with 55.23%, while Zehner received 31.28% and 44.77% of votes in those counties, respectively.
Since the 2023 redrawing of state maps effective for the 2024 election, District 1 includes Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans and Tyrrell.
The North Carolina General Assembly redrew maps in 2023 effective for the 2024 election. This map shows state Senate districts. (Map courtesy North Carolina General Assembly website)
N.C. State Senate District 2
Incumbent Sen. Norm Sanderson (R-Pamlico) was reelected to the North Carolina Senate District 2 seat over Democratic challenger Roy Surrett of Carteret County, with 53.78% of the vote, compared to 46.22%.
Locally, Sanderson won Hyde with 56.65% of the vote, while Surrett received 43.35%.
Since the 2023 redrawing of state maps effective for the 2024 election, District 2 includes Carteret, Chowan, Halifax, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Warren and Washington.
N.C. House of Representatives District 1 and District 79
Incumbent Rep. Ed Goodwin (R-Chowan) was reelected to the North Carolina House of Representatives District 1 over Democratic challenger Miriam Rollin of Dare County, with 60.12% of the vote, compared to 39.88%.
Locally, Goodwin won Currituck with 68.3% of the vote and Dare with 53.48%, while Rollin received 31.7% and 44.77% of votes in those counties, respectively.
House District 1 includes Chowan, Currituck, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties, plus part of Dare County.
The North Carolina General Assembly redrew maps in 2023 effective for the 2024 election. This map shows state House districts. (Map courtesy North Carolina General Assembly website)
Darren Armstrong (R-Beaufort) ran unopposed for state House District 79, which includes Beaufort, Hyde and Pamlico counties, plus part of Dare County.
Currituck County
Currituck County Board of Commissioners
At-large
Matt Beickert (R) 8,680 (68.94%)
Reggie Saunders (D) 3,911 (31.06%)
District 3
Mike Payment (R) 9,671 (100%)
District 5
JeKeith Cowell, Sr. (D) 3,925 (31.37%)
Steve Hedrick (R) 8,586 (68.63%)
Currituck County Clerk of Superior Court
Ray Matusko (R) 9,995 (100%)
Currituck County Sheriff
Jeffrey Walker (R) 9,962 (100%)
Currituck County Board of Education (nonpartisan races)
At-large
Jason Banks 8,700 (97.7%)
write-in 205 (2.3%)
Crawford Township
Melissa Harrison 6,397 (69.04%)
Stephanie Forloines 2,774 (29.94%)
write-in 95 (1.03%)
Poplar Branch Township
Dana Parker 5,275 (51.63%)
William (Bill) Dobney 4,876 (47.73%)
write-in 65 (0.64%)
Albemarle-Currituck County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (nonpartisan race):
William L. Powell 4,242 (31.05%)
Joseph (Joe) Hobbs 3,801 (27.82%)
Harvey Roberts 2,873 (21.03%)
John Mack Duncan 2,604 (19.06%)
write-in 141 (1.03%)
Currituck County Board of Education Election Method
For: 6,369 (54.62%)
Against: 5,291 (45.38%)
Currituck County Board of Commissioners Structure Change
Yes: 8,543 (73.07%)
No: 3,149 (26.93%)
Dare County
Dare County Board of Commissioners
At-large
Ervin Bateman (R) 10,676 (56.46%)
Aida Havel (D) 8,232 (43.54%)
District 1
David Twiddy (R) 11,830 (100%)
District 2
Rob Ross (R) 11,386 (100%)
Dare County Board of Education (partisan races)
District 1
Stephen Nichols (R) 10,028 (53.45%)
Kelleta Govan (D) 8,735 (46.55%)
District 2
Ron Payne (R) 11,314 (100%)
District 3
Rich Shope (R) 10,798 (78.41%)
write-in 2,973 (21.59%)
Dare County Clerk of Superior Court
Dean Martin Tolson (R) 11,904 (100%)
Dare County Register of Deeds
Cheryl House (R) 11,575 (100%)
Dare County Sheriff
Rodney Rawls (R) 12,892 (100%)
Dare County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (nonpartisan, may vote for two)
Clarence Wood Beasley 9,501 (51.76%)
Matthew J. Paulson 8,453 (46.05%)
write-in 403 (2.2%)
Hyde County (select races)
Hyde County Board of Commissioners
Currituck Township
write-in 555 (100%)
Swan Quarter Township
Jan Moore (R) 1,273 (100%)
Hyde County Board of Education (partisan race)
At-large (may vote for two)
Phillip (Andy) Holloway (D) 1,047 (52.09%)
Dustin Nails (R) (resigned in July; Santasha Cooper appointed in August) 963 (47.91%)
Ocracoke District
Rachael Chestnut (D) 1,336 (100%)
Hyde County Clerk of Superior Court
Brandy Cahoon Pugh (D) 1,618 (100%)
Hyde County Register of Deeds
E. Merita Lewis-Spencer (D) 1,594 (100%)
Hyde County Sheriff
Carl (Guire) Cahoon, Jr. (D) 1,126 (58.13%)
Odell Williams (U) 811 (41.87%)
Hyde County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor (nonpartisan race, may vote for two)
JW Spencer 1,393 (64.13%)
Manley (Trey) Palmer 733 (33.75%)
write-in 46 (2.12%)
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