North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)

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2024
North Carolina's 10th Congressional District
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: December 19, 2025
Primary: March 3, 2026
Primary runoff: May 12, 2026
General: November 3, 2026
How to vote
Poll times:

6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Voting in North Carolina

Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
DDHQ and The Hill: Pending
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds
U.S. House battlegrounds
Federal and state primary competitiveness
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2026
See also
North Carolina's 10th Congressional District
U.S. Senate1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th12th13th14th
North Carolina elections, 2026
U.S. Congress elections, 2026
U.S. Senate elections, 2026
U.S. House elections, 2026

A Democratic Party primary took place on March 3, 2026, in North Carolina's 10th Congressional District to determine which Democratic candidate would run in the district's general election on November 3, 2026.

Ashley Bell advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 10.

Candidate filing deadline Primary election General election
December 19, 2025
March 3, 2026
November 3, 2026



A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Carolina utilizes a semi-closed primary system. Parties decide who may vote in their respective primaries. Voters may choose a primary ballot without impacting their unaffiliated status.[1]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

This page focuses on North Carolina's 10th Congressional District Democratic primary. For more in-depth information on the district's Republican primary and the general election, see the following pages:

Candidates and election results

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 10

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ashley Bell
Ashley Bell Candidate Connection
 
47.3
 
19,369
Image of West Caudle
West Caudle Candidate Connection
 
15.6
 
6,391
Image of Harry Morley
Harry Morley Candidate Connection
 
11.4
 
4,659
Image of Marcus D. Pearson
Marcus D. Pearson
 
9.9
 
4,045
Image of Mir Yarfitz
Mir Yarfitz Candidate Connection
 
9.6
 
3,922
Image of Ralph Scott Jr.
Ralph Scott Jr.
 
6.3
 
2,584

Total votes: 40,970
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Image of Ashley Bell

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I am a straight shooter. I am authentic. I am principled. I am not afraid to say what needs to be said. I am brutally honest (just ask my students). I love being told "No" - it motivates me to prove naysayers wrong. I was raised in ruby red rural East Texas by small business owners. My grandfather started an HVAC business in 1957 that still operates today. I was the first in my family to attend college, graduating from the University of Houston - thanks to the Pell grant, academic and music scholarships, and multiple part time jobs to pay my way. I'm not a career politician — I'm a physician associate and teacher who has spent my life in public service. I am the ONLY candidate in this race who has direct, first hand experience with healthcare, education, and national leadership. I understand what it's like to lose a job due to illness, to be denied reasonable accommodations so one can do their job, and to experience financial crisis because of that. It's all happened to me personally, and I know the consequences of poor policies and how they harm working families. Many years ago, I chose North Carolina as my permanent home. I love the people, the places, and the opportunities here. I'm committed to making sure others in NC-10 have access to the opportunities they want to pursue."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


The United States has the resources to ensure that our citizens are taken care of and given the opportunity they need to succeed. However, current conditions are presenting barriers to that. Everything is too expensive. The "waste, fraud and abuse" people are creating more waste, fraud, and abuse. Millions are losing their healthcare. People can't afford rent, or to buy homes. Children are going hungry. Some veterans - people who have served our country - are homeless and without access to healthcare. And who's really thriving? Billionaires. It is embarrassing that in the greatest country in the world, people can't afford to pay for basic needs. This has to change.


Our healthcare system is a mess from top to bottom, and has been for as long as most of us can remember. As a PA, I understand the crisis from the inside. I've treated patients who can’t afford meds, can’t access mental health care, and can’t get appointments. Don't even get me started on arguments with insurance companies. Prior authorization MUST be outlawed. I believe healthcare providers should be calling the shots on healthcare in this country, rather than sleazy, profit driven politicians with no experience in medicine. I believe that healthcare providers have endured enough abuse in the last several years. Frontline healthcare workers (not overpaid CEOs) have to be treated better so that our patients can be treated better.


I am an action taker. While those currently in office and other candidates just talk about doing things, I actually do them. If we want change, we have to #DoSomething. As a leader in my profession for the last 15 years, I've served on multiple boards of directors and visited Congress often to advocate for my patients, healthcare providers and students. I LOVE fighting corruption, which is good, since there's plenty of it in Congress. When a billion dollar ed-tech company tried to exploit my students for money in exchange for poor quality education, I teamed up with the Wall Street Journal and the US Department of Education to expose their lack of ethics and poor business practices. Not long after, that company filed bankruptcy.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.

Image of West Caudle

WebsiteFacebookYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I am West Caudle, a life-long resident of Northwest North Carolina. My family goes back over six generations to the same family farm in Yadkin County, North Carolina. With professional experience in local law enforcement, as a public school teacher, a small business owner, and in the public business sector in management and consulting roles; I bring a wide scope and vision for addressing the many issues that tear at the fabric of our society. I have watched as politicians from both sides of the aisle have made promises and failed repeatedly to make good on them. In our rural communities farmers have been left by the wayside as land sits idle, input costs skyrocket, and returns dwindle. In our towns and cities communities are left behind as factories close and small businesses have to fight tooth and nail to survive. Kids graduate and move away. Access to retail and food stores are a haul. Local schools go underfunded, overcrowded, and in need of costly repairs. In short not only do we deserve better but better is possible with leadership willing to fight for the communities we call home, answer to the people, and not only say what they mean but mean what they say. We may not always agree, but I'll always listen and work to achieve the best outcomes for everyone. Ideology can separate us but on the details I've found that we often agree. I love our home and I humbly ask that you support me in my mission to deliver for our area, our families, and our future."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


The cost of living is outrageous, out of touch, unnecessary, etc. I will always put people over corporate profits and that is going to make me a lot of wealthy opposition. I will work tirelessly to solve the affordability crisis gripping the nation. We shouldn't be faced with the decision to put gas in the car to get to work or get groceries for the week. Kids shouldn't show up to school tired and hungry. Families should be able to afford quality child care. The list goes on but life is meant to be lived and we shouldn't have the joy of life squeezed out of us just to survive.


Healthcare should not be an economic system. In the United States a medical issue should never bankrupt someone. Insurance companies should not profit billions of dollars off the hard working people simply trying to survive or have a say in what procedure or medication you can have. Most importantly, medical decisions are between the patient and the physician. Politicians have more than enough to worry about instead of attempting to legislate what someone can and cannot do with their body.


Education and opportunity. These two things can and will solve almost every ill we get hung up on. Fully funded public education, affordable college/university education, skilled trade training and apprenticeships. Each of these leads to a top of the line work force, innovators and innovation, job creation, and a thriving economy. When people succeed, we succeed. Success keeps families together and crime decreases. When petty crime decreases as a way of survival, violence and addiction shrink. Fully fund public education and watch us take off.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.

Image of Harry Morley

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I’m Harry Morley, a public school teacher, lifelong advocate for working families, and candidate for Congress in North Carolina’s 10th District. I grew up in Fayetteville, the son of an Army officer who worked his way up from the bottom, not through West Point, but through dedication, perseverance, and service. Inspired by that example, I earned my Eagle Scout rank, where I saw the power of leadership and community service and committed early to living those values. I’ve taught exceptional children for over two decades, hold National Board Certification and a Master’s in Education, and have worked with at-risk youth through the Eckerd Wilderness Program. My leadership was quickly recognized not through titles, but by the trust of students, families, and colleagues. I’ve lived the reality many in our district face — wondering whether to see a doctor, picking up extra jobs to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck. I won’t just listen to my constituents — I will hear them and work to address their real needs. I’m running to represent the everyday people of District 10 — because I’ve walked in their shoes."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


Economic Struggles & Working-Class Representation I’ve lived paycheck to paycheck. I know what it’s like to ask, “Can we afford to go to the doctor?” or “Do I need to get a second job just to make ends meet?” I’ve been there — and that’s exactly why I’m running. Too many people in our district are working hard but still getting left behind. They deserve someone in Washington who understands what they’re going through and will fight to change it.


Education & Support for All Students As a public school teacher, I’ve spent my career working with students with disabilities and at-risk youth. I’ve seen how strong public education can change lives — and I’ve also seen how underfunding and neglect hold our kids back. Every child deserves a real chance to succeed, no matter their ZIP code. That means fully funding our schools, supporting our teachers, and investing in families — not in political games.


Healthcare Access, Especially in Rural Areas In too many parts of our district, people can’t get the healthcare they need — either because it’s too far away, too expensive, or both. I know what that’s like. I’ve had to make those same tough calls with my own family. Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. I’ll fight to expand access and lower costs so that no one has to choose between their health and their rent.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.

Image of Mir Yarfitz

WebsiteFacebook

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography "I’ve been organizing since I was 17: with unions, farmworkers, tenants, LGBTQ movements, here and abroad. I’ve lived in Winston-Salem since 2013. I’m a tenured professor of Latin American, Jewish, and gender and sexuality history. In this city, I’ve organized tenants, helped implement anti-discrimination protections, and volunteered in every election cycle. I have been standing up to bullies my entire life. As a queer and trans man, who transitioned over two decades ago, I have always been out and proud to defend myself and the lives of my friends. I am not afraid of what they have to throw at us. Just as I have done at my workplace and in other communities, I make it my regular practice when I see others cave in to bullies to encourage everyone to stand with a larger group and say no, enough is enough. This candidacy was born on November 20, 2025, on the corner of Sprague and Old Lexington in Waughtown—Winston-Salem’s Little Mexico—as Operation Charlotte’s Web spread across the region. Terrified immigrant families and allies held that intersection for twelve hours. ICE didn’t take our neighborhood that day. Over the following days, we kept organizing. We started calling ourselves Fuerza Triad—Triad Strong. Elected officials showed up for selfies. So we asked them for action. They said the Feds have "a bigger badge." One incumbent told us plainly: you should run yourselves. So we decided to try."


Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.


There should be no billionaires. Hoarding capital is bad for the larger economy and for working people. Trickle-down is a poisonous myth, and we need to stop subsidizing and bailing out corporations. Taxes should be progressive, simple, and fair. I will work with colleagues from various backgrounds to reform our regressive tax system, and return the surplus money earned by the hard work of Americans back where it belongs: in the hands of those who create wealth, not those who hoard it.   Daily costs of living, including childcare, groceries, gas, and electricity have become unaffordable for most Americans. It is far past time to raise the federal minimum wage. I propose $20/hour, to automatically adjust annually with further inflation.


North Carolina’s public schools are some of the least funded in the country. Our children, families, and teachers deserve better. The nutrition, physical and mental health, and other wraparound services provided in schools need further investment. As a professor of history, I am deeply invested in education and will combat attacks on our educational system and critical literacy. Quality K-12 education, trade school, and higher education should be accessible to all. Pre-K and childcare should be universally available. Trade and vocational schools should be free, and there should be more of them. Student loans should be forgiven. We must end the censorship of information labelled woke or DEI.


Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare. Social safety programs should be available to all, regardless of employment. We can draw inspiration from the many other countries with cheaper and more effective public systems. We must override the objections funded by the insurance, pharmaceutical, and hospital industries. I have been an activist for LGBTQ+ rights since age 14. I support full legal protections, access to gender-affirming healthcare as a human right, and everyone’s right to bodily autonomy. Here in North Carolina, we need to stand our ground to maintain Title IX protections and insurance coverage, and fight anti-discrimination policies in the public and private sectors. 

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.

Voting information

See also: Voting in North Carolina

Election information in North Carolina: March 3, 2026, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 28, 2026
  • By mail: Postmarked by Feb. 6, 2026
  • Online: Feb. 6, 2026

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

Yes

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

  • In-person: Feb. 17, 2026
  • By mail: Received by Feb. 17, 2026
  • Online: Feb. 17, 2026

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

  • In-person: March 3, 2026
  • By mail: Received by March 3, 2026

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Feb. 12, 2026 to Feb. 28, 2026

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Campaign finance

Name Party Receipts* Disbursements** Cash on hand Date
Ashley Bell Democratic Party $20,544 $18,751 $1,748 As of February 11, 2026
West Caudle Democratic Party $33,174 $17,476 $3,199 As of February 11, 2026
Harry Morley Democratic Party $13,904 $2,898 $11,186 As of February 11, 2026
Marcus D. Pearson Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Ralph Scott Jr. Democratic Party $0 $0 $0 Data not available***
Mir Yarfitz Democratic Party $19,550 $7,338 $12,212 As of February 11, 2026

Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2026. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

* According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee."
** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election.
*** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

  • District map - A map of the district before and after redistricting ahead of the 2026 election.
  • Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2026 U.S. House elections in the state.
  • Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
  • State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.


Below is the district map used in the 2024 election next to the map in place for the 2026 election. Click on a map below to enlarge it.

2024

2025_01_03_nc_congressional_district_010.jpg

2026

2027_01_03_nc_congressional_district_010.jpeg
See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2026

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in North Carolina.

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in North Carolina in 2026. Information below was calculated on December 19, 2025., and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Sixty-seven candidates — 40 Democrats and 27 Republicans — ran for North Carolina’s 14 U.S. House districts. That’s 4.8 candidates per district. There were 4.6 candidates per district in 2024 and 7.14 in 2022. In 2020, when the state had 13 U.S. House districts, there were 4.9 candidates per district. There were 4.3 candidates in 2018, 5.7 in 2016, and 4.6 in 2014.

These were the first elections to take place since the General Assembly of North Carolina passed a new congressional map. The North Carolina Senate passed it on Oct. 21, 2025, and the North Carolina House of Representatives passed it Oct. 22, 2025.

No districts were open in 2026, meaning all incumbents — four Democrats and 10 Republicans — ran for re-election. The only other year since 2014 with no open districts was 2018.

Nineteen primaries — 11 Democratic and eight Republican — were contested in 2026. In total, there were 13 contested primaries in 2024, 22 in 2022, 13 in 2020, 17 in 2018, 16 in 2016, and 17 in 2014.

Eight candidates — six Democrats and two Republicans — ran for the 10th district, the most candidates who ran for a district in 2026.

Eight incumbents — two Democrats and six Republicans — faced a primary challenger in 2026. There were four incumbents in a contested primary in 2024, seven in 2022, three in 2020, eight in 2018, nine in 2016, and six in 2014.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all 14 districts, meaning no districts were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2026 elections, based on results from the 2024 and 2020 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district is R+9. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 9 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made North Carolina's 10th the 143rd most Republican district nationally.[2]

2024 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2024 presidential election was in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by The Downballot.

2024 presidential results in North Carolina's 10th Congressional District
Kamala Harris Democratic PartyDonald Trump Republican Party
42.6%55.2%

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in North Carolina, 2024

North Carolina presidential election results (1900-2024)

  • 18 Democratic wins
  • 14 Republican wins
Year 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Winning Party D D D D D D D R D D D D D D D D D R R D R R R R R R R D R R R R
See also: Party control of North Carolina state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of North Carolina's congressional delegation as of October 2025.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from North Carolina
Party U.S. Senate U.S. House Total
Democratic 0 4 4
Republican 2 10 12
Independent 0 0 0
Vacancies 0 0 0
Total 2 14 16

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in North Carolina's top four state executive offices as of October 2025.

State executive officials in North Carolina, October 2025
OfficeOfficeholder
GovernorDemocratic Party Josh Stein
Lieutenant GovernorDemocratic Party Rachel Hunt
Secretary of StateDemocratic Party Elaine Marshall
Attorney GeneralDemocratic Party Jeff Jackson

State legislature

North Carolina State Senate

Party As of March 2026
     Democratic Party 20
     Republican Party 30
     Other 0
     Vacancies 0
Total 50

North Carolina House of Representatives

Party As of March 2026
     Democratic Party 49
     Republican Party 70
     Other 0
     Vacancies 1
Total 120

Trifecta control

North Carolina Party Control: 1992-2025
Fourteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in North Carolina in the 2026 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in North Carolina, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2026
State Office Party Signatures required Filing fee Filing deadline Source
North Carolina U.S. House Ballot-qualified party 5% of registered voters in the same party or 200, whichever is greater $1,740 12/19/2025 Source
North Carolina U.S. House Unaffiliated 1.5% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year. $1,740 12/19/2025 Source

See also

External links

Footnotes


Senators
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
Republican Party (12)
Democratic Party (4)