North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primary)
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← 2024
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| 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. |
| Race ratings |
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 |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th • 10th • 11th • 12th • 13th • 14th 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 |
|---|---|---|
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:
- North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
- North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026
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 | ||
| ✔ | Ashley Bell ![]() | 47.3 | 19,369 | |
West Caudle ![]() | 15.6 | 6,391 | ||
Harry Morley ![]() | 11.4 | 4,659 | ||
| Marcus D. Pearson | 9.9 | 4,045 | ||
Mir Yarfitz ![]() | 9.6 | 3,922 | ||
| Ralph Scott Jr. | 6.3 | 2,584 | ||
| Total votes: 40,970 | ||||
= 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.
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."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.
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."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.
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."
This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House North Carolina District 10 in 2026.
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."
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
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 |
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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." |
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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

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
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.
| Kamala Harris | Donald Trump |
|---|---|
| 42.6% | 55.2% |
Presidential voting history
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 |
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.
| Office | Officeholder |
|---|---|
| Governor | |
| Lieutenant Governor | |
| Secretary of State | |
| Attorney General |
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
- North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026 (March 3 Republican primary)
- North Carolina's 10th Congressional District election, 2026
- United States House elections in North Carolina, 2026 (March 3 Democratic primaries)
- United States House elections in North Carolina, 2026 (March 3 Republican primaries)
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2026
- U.S. House battlegrounds, 2026
External links
Footnotes
