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Ronda Mays

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Ronda Mays
Candidate, Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large
Elections and appointments
Last election
March 3, 2026
Next election
November 3, 2026
Education
High school
Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
Bachelor's
State University of New York at Buffalo, 1993
Graduate
State University of New York at Buffalo, 1995
Personal
Birthplace
Buffalo, NY
Religion
Christian
Profession
Social worker
Contact

Ronda Mays (Democratic Party) is running for election for an at-large seat of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools school board in North Carolina. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on March 3, 2026.

Biography

Ronda Mays was born in Buffalo, New York. She graduated from the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. She earned a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1993 and a graduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1995. Her career experience includes working as a social worker. She has been affiliated with Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Lambda Epsilon Sigma; National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Winston-Salem Chapter; Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Zeta Chapter; Masonic Order- Eastern Star; and the NC School Social Worker Association.[1]

Elections

2026

See also: Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, North Carolina, elections (2026)

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large (3 seats)

Valerie Brockenbrough (D), Ronda Mays (D), Elisabeth Motsinger (D), Jason Lucero (R), and Michael Quinones (R) are running in the general election for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large on November 3, 2026.


Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

Democratic primary for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large (3 seats)

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large on March 3, 2026.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ronda Mays
Ronda Mays
 
16.3
 
14,426
Image of Valerie Brockenbrough
Valerie Brockenbrough
 
12.6
 
11,150
Image of Elisabeth Motsinger
Elisabeth Motsinger
 
12.6
 
11,113
Image of Linda Winikoff
Linda Winikoff  Candidate Connection
 
12.5
 
10,999
Image of Gwendolyn Johnson
Gwendolyn Johnson
 
11.0
 
9,711
Richard Watts
 
10.8
 
9,522
Image of Frank James
Frank James  Candidate Connection
 
9.5
 
8,412
Donald Dunn
 
7.1
 
6,256
Vondell Davis
 
5.4
 
4,797
Image of Henry McCarthy
Henry McCarthy
 
2.2
 
1,900

Total votes: 88,286
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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Republican primary

The Republican primary scheduled for March 3, 2026, was canceled. Jason Lucero (R) and Michael Quinones (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools school board At-Large without appearing on the ballot.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

See also: North Carolina State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for North Carolina State Senate District 31

Dana Caudill Jones defeated Ronda Mays and Teresa Hopper Prizer in the general election for North Carolina State Senate District 31 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Dana Caudill Jones
Dana Caudill Jones (R)
 
62.4
 
78,429
Image of Ronda Mays
Ronda Mays (D) Candidate Connection
 
37.4
 
47,035
Teresa Hopper Prizer (Independent) (Write-in)
 
0.0
 
7
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.1
 
186

Total votes: 125,657
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 31

Ronda Mays defeated Laurelyn Dossett in the Democratic primary for North Carolina State Senate District 31 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Ronda Mays
Ronda Mays Candidate Connection
 
53.8
 
6,241
Laurelyn Dossett
 
46.2
 
5,363

Total votes: 11,604
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.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Dana Caudill Jones advanced from the Republican primary for North Carolina State Senate District 31.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Ronda Mays has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Ronda Mays asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Ronda Mays, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask Ronda Mays to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing rondamayscandidate@gmail.com.

Email


2024

Candidate Connection

Ronda Mays completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mays' responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a mother with over 24 years of service as a public school educator and community advocate in North Carolina. I have collaborated with families, students, educators, community members, and lawmakers to address barriers to children receiving an equitable and quality education. I have volunteered and served on community boards that addressed child abuse, housing issues, adolescent pregnancy, financial issues, mental health concerns, and domestic violence.

Listening to the voices of people in the community is important because they know first-hand what the needs are and can provide options for addressing them. It is important that changes, no matter how big or small, are made with communities and not done to the communities.

Serving as president of Forsyth County Association of Educators and other leadership roles have shown me the importance of collaborating with others to reach a common goal.

When you vote for me, you want your voice to be heard. My years as a mother, school social worker, organizer, and board member have taught me the importance of listening. I will listen to understand your concerns, needs, and solutions. I will take this into account when considering and recommending legislation.

When elected, I pledge to represent all the constituents in the district. I am asking for your vote. Thank you and I am looking forward to serving as your NC State Senator in District 31.
  • Education: Every student deserves to have equitable access to a quality education as well as the necessary resources needed to succeed, including qualified educators, books, and the current technology. The availability of high-speed internet in all communities is important to the success of children attending school.

    Educators must be paid for their masters. Longevity pay is one way to attract and retain educators in NC. All educator roles are important and deserving of salaries which reflect professional level of pay.

    Per pupil funding must increase to the national average. NC is toward the bottom.

    The school voucher program takes money from the public schools and allows it to be placed in private schools.
  • Health Care: Medicaid expansion allows more North Carolinians health care coverage. There is a need for improved access to medical and mental health services. When people must travel 30 or more minutes to access treatment, there will be inconsistencies in obtaining it. Women must have the right to choose their reproductive health care. Abortion rights and IVF are health care. Healthcare decisions must be between the patient, family, and healthcare provider.
  • Housing: Adequate and affordable housing is a concern. Rent prices are high. Some of the available housing is not safe for children and families to live in, but these are the properties they can afford.
I am passionate about our public education system and the people who work in it. I would like there to be universal pre-k. We have to revisit, revise, and rewrite policies impacting our education system. It is important to attract and retain the educators at every level. We much review our per pupil funding, all educator salaries, the safety of schools, the infrastructure of the buildings.

Mental and physical health of people is important. This impacts how a person functions in our society. The quality and availability of these services impacts the manner someone can access care.
My very first job outside of the home was a cashier for a deli. I say I was a cashier but that was one of my many roles. I would clean and restock shelves and coolers, cut meat and cheese in the deli area, and operate the Lottery machine. I would there for about two years.
A woman recounted a time when she was trying to get her tubes tied (tubal ligation). The couple had decided that they did not want any additional children. She went and spoke with her doctor concerning this and completed all of the paperwork and was told her husband had to also sign for this procedure. When she told her husband that she was upset about needing his permission, he went and spoke with his doctor about a vasectomy. He did not require a signature from his wife to have it completed. He went forward with the procedure at the scheduled time.

This is concerning. Why did the adult woman need permission from her adult husband to have a procedure but the husband did not require consent from his wife. Why? This is another example of a woman not being allowed the same freedoms for healthcare as a man. Reproductive and IVF Rights and Freedoms are issues we must continue to advocate for.
* North Carolina Democratic Progressive Caucus
  • Forsyth County Association of Educators
  • Stokes County Association of Educators
  • Planned Parenthood
  • Lillian’s List
  • Carolina Forward
  • North Carolina Forward Party
  • Equality North Carolina Action Fund PAC
  • National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter
  • NC State AFL-CIO


  • Equal Rights Amendment Certified
  • Mental Health Now
  • Mom’s Seal of Approval on Child Care
  • Gun Sense Candidate

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Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Ronda Mays campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024North Carolina State Senate District 31Lost general$19,675 $16,739
Grand total$19,675 $16,739
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 27, 2024