PENDER COUNTY — Primary election results have begun shaping the ballot for several local races ahead of the November general election. The outcomes present a change in leadership on the Pender County Board of Commissioners, plus a new superior court clerk emerges as the soon-to-be-former one wraps a two-year criminal case with a not-guilty verdict on Tuesday.
The most notable local development came in the Republican primary for the District 2 commissioner seat. Sitting board chair Randy Burton was defeated by challenger Ryan Collins, who received 62.82% of the vote compared to Burton’s 37.18%. Burton’s loss guarantees District 2 will feature new representation after the general election, as Collins will advance to face Democrat Brookey Hardee in November.
READ MORE: Early-voting numbers increased since 2022 primary midterm election
Other new commissioners are coming onto the dais as well, with Jerry Groves and Brad George not refiling to keep their seats. George’s District 1 seat had Shayne Frey and Joe Cina battling it out for the win. Frey took the nomination with 73.54% of the vote, defeating Cina (26.46%) and advancing to the November general election. Frey will face Democrat and former Topsail Beach commissioner Tim Zizack in the fall contest.
Andy Jessie DeVane won Groves’ District 3 nomination with 53.86% of the vote compared to David Fallin’s 46.14%. DeVane will be the new officeholder since a Democratic candidate didn’t file.
Incumbent commissioner Jimmy Tate also advanced in the District 4 unexpired term Republican primary, receiving 64.27% of the vote compared to 35.73% for challenger Max Southworth-Beckwith. Tate was nominated last year by the Pender County GOP to fill the vacancy created when Commissioner Ken Smith resigned after relocating out of the county. Tate has been serving the remainder of Smith’s term, which runs through 2028. Tate will move forward in the contest to complete the unexpired term.
Other local races included the school board and clerk of court. In the Pender County Schools Board of Education District 1 Republican primary, incumbent Jennifer R. Hansen won the nomination with 61.47% of the vote, defeating Sam Guidry (38.53%). District 2 ushered in a winner in Jason K. Jordan with 55.53%, topping Kim McGahey (44.47%). There are no Democratic candidates for the school board in this year’s primary or general election.
Camille Costin Harrell won the Republican primary for clerk of superior court with 57.71%. She beat out incumbent Elizabeth Craver (42.29%), who has been on trial over the last week for three felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Craver was found not guilty on all charges Tuesday, around two hours before the polls closed. There is not a Democratic candidate running in the general election so Harrell is the presumptive winner.
Out of Pender County’s 53,076 registered voters, 9,461 cast ballots in the 2026 primary election, for a turnout rate of 17.83%. That was slightly higher and nearly identical to the 2022 primary cycle, when 8,127 of 45,974 registered voters participated, for a turnout rate of 17.68%.
State and federal races were also decided in Pender County primary voting. Incumbent Republican Carson Smith won the N.C. House District 16 primary with 79.03% of the vote, defeating Joshua Patti (20.97%). Smith is expected to face Democratic candidate Jim Harris in the November general election.
Incumbent Republican Brent Jackson led the N.C. Senate District 9 primary with 68.06% over William W. Barbour (31.94%) and will face Democrat Helen Bronson in the general election.
In federal races, Democrat Roy Cooper captured 90.55% of the Democratic U.S. Senate primary vote in Pender County, while Republican Michael Whatley won the county’s Republican primary with 66.95%.
Incumbent Republican David Rouzer also secured the Republican primary vote in Pender County with 80.35% in the U.S. House District 7 contest.
The unofficial votes for all Pender County primary races can be viewed below and results will be canvassed March 13.
U.S. Senate Democrat
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
| Roy Cooper | DEM | 2,521 | 90.55% |
| Marcus W. Williams | DEM | 78 | 2.80% |
| Justin E. Dues | DEM | 68 | 2.44% |
| Daryl Farrow | DEM | 48 | 1.72% |
| Robert Colon | DEM | 48 | 1.72% |
| Orrick Quick | DEM | 21 | 0.75% |
U.S. Senate Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Whatley | REP | 4,064 | 66.95% |
| Donald M. (Don) Brown | REP | 711 | 11.71% |
| Thomas Johnson | REP | 368 | 6.06% |
| Elizabeth A. Temple | REP | 309 | 5.09% |
| Michele Morrow | REP | 306 | 5.04% |
| Richard Dansie | REP | 187 | 3.08% |
| Margot Dupre | REP | 125 | 2.06% |
U.S. House of Representatives District 7: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Rouzer | REP | 5,137 | 80.35% |
| David Buzzard | REP | 1,256 | 19.65% |
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 1
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Smith | REP | 2,959 | 52.71% |
| Michael C. Byrne | REP | 2,655 | 47.29% |
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Seat 3
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christine Marie Walczyk | DEM | 1,797 | 67.03% |
| James Weldon Whalen | DEM | 884 | 32.97% |
NC Senate District 9: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brent Jackson | REP | 4,045 | 68.06% |
| William W. Barbour | REP | 1,898 | 31.94% |
NC House of Representatives District 9: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson Smith | REP | 5,066 | 79.03% |
| Joshua Patti | REP | 1,344 | 20.97% |
Commissioners District 3: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shayne Frey | REP | 4,485 | 73.54% |
| Joe Cina | REP | 1,614 | 26.46% |
Commissioners District 2: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Collins | REP | 4,008 | 62.82% |
| Randy Burton | REP | 2,372 | 37.18% |
Commissioners District 3: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andy Jessie DeVane | REP | 3,372 | 53.86% |
| David Fallin | REP | 2,889 | 46.14% |
Commissioners District 4 (unexpired): Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy T. Tate | REP | 4,161 | 64.27% |
| Max Southworth-Beckwith | REP | 2,313 | 35.73% |
Pender Schools Board of Education: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer R. Hansen | REP | 3,827 | 61.47% |
| Sam Guidry | REP | 2,399 | 38.53% |
Pender Schools Board of Education: Republican
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jason K. Jordan | REP | 3,406 | 55.53% |
| Kim McGahey | REP | 2,728 | 44.47% |
Pender County Superior Clerk of Court
| NAME ON BALLOT | PARTY | BALLOT COUNT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camille Costin Harrell | REP | 3,676 | 57.71% |
| Elizabeth H. Craver | REP | 2,694 | 42.29% |
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