Terry Boag (Union County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2026)

Terry Boag

Republican Party

Candidate, Union County Sheriff

Elections and appointments

Last election

March 3, 2026

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1982 - 2020

Personal

Profession

Public servant

Terry Boag (Republican Party) ran for election for Union County Sheriff in North Carolina. Boag was on the ballot in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026.^[source]

Boag completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Terry Boag provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on January 27, 2026:

• Graduate: Touro, 2009
• Military service: United States Army, 1982-2020
• Profession: Public Servant
• Incumbent officeholder: No

Elections

Republican primary

Republican primary for Union County Sheriff

Terry Boag (R), Eddie Cathey (R), and Todd Elmore (R) ran in the Republican primary for Union County Sheriff on March 3, 2026.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Terry Boag
	Submit photo	Eddie Cathey
	Submit photo	Todd Elmore

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	Incumbency information for this race was not available.
= 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.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Boag in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Terry Boag completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Boag's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Terry Boag, like Boat with a G….Terry Boag.

I am a life-long Republican and I love this Nation. I respect you, your opinion and your life, your liberty, and your pursuit of happiness. I am not a politician, I am a Soldier and a Cop for life! Yes I drank the USA’s kool aid, and it is delicious. 

I am married, I have four children, and 19 dogs, mostly rescues… that’s a lot I know... But when a mommy dog loves a daddy dog….Lol. My family is my entire World. My ancestors were from Scotland/Ireland, so by default I am Presbyterian. Lol…IYKYK. I am a leader, I lead from the front, I work in the trenches with my team on the streets with my team, and where my team is, is where I’ll be. I support my team. I will provide them the leadership and mentorship to ensure the best of the best is what Union County NC will have protecting them. I am retired from the US Army, I had the privilege of serving this Nation and swore an oath to protect the Constitution, for 38 years…half Active/half Guard/Reserve. I retired as a First Sergeant(1SG). I held the Infantry and Military Police MOS’. I held a top-secret/SCI clearance, I had six combat deployments, I spent four years at the Pentagon. I worked one year in GITMO.. I have a Master’s Degree, I took two classes toward my PhD, however,life got in the way, that try didn’t go too well.

I retired last year from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department after 24.5 years. I support the USA LEO’s/Police/ICE…REMEMBER OUR FALLEN! 🇺🇸

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Message 1) Sheriff’s role as a working Sheriff and intervention for non violent crimes.

  I am Terry Boag running for Union County NC Sheriff. I am the change we need, and I am the one who will work for ALL the citizens of Union County NC providing equal enforcement of the laws for ALL. I will wear the uniform EVERYDAY, not a suit.

  I won’t politic everyday, and as Union County NC grows I will take Union County law enforcement forward! I am not a politician. I am tough on crime cop but, I also know intervention for non-violent crimes are an option. I will be on the road, at the Jail, in the Courthouse,with the Deputies and in- touch with the citizens, experiences, issues and concerns. Something that has been absent for years! 🇺🇸
• Message 2) …UCSO not being fully staffed. I will fill all the vacancies with good, quality, honest Deputies within the first six months. Our Deputies will get the most modern equipment, best training and scenario based experience and understand my policies of common sense law enforcement. UCSO is who needs to protect and serve the citizens and visitors to Union County, and the deputies will use an appropriate and common sense approach. Is this malum prohibitum or malum in se offense? Can the offender learn from a warning citation or does he/she need a hard copy? Can the non-violent drug addicted, alcoholic offender seek rehabilitation? Or jail? The UCSO needs a bigger jail… we need an alternative source to correct some bad behavior. 🇺🇸
• Message 3) Transparency The Sheriff’s office will be as transparent as they can by law. A good cop hates a crooked/bad cop more then anyone. Crooked/bad cops change public opinion, attitude, and actions toward LEO’s. There are very few crooked/bad cops out there amongst the ranks but, they are there and we will not have that in the UCSO. People don’t need to be afraid of the Cops… And too many are. We need to bridge that gap we need more youth programs, more community involvement, more trained volunteers to drive around and radio in suspicious activity and just be seen! We need to realize we work and protect ALL citizens and visitors equally but we will absolutely arrest when needed! Terry Boag for change!.🇺🇸

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I love this Country, so the obvious “Public Policy” you asked, “what I’m passionate about”, without expounding on the question … if you mean National policy? -the violent protests against LEO/Govt/ICE.

As Sheriff I/ our UCSO team, will provide any and all assistance, protection, and support we can provide to assist all ICE/LEO’s involved safe.. non-violent protestors are welcome, violent are not!

If you mean - Union County policy? -the managed growth, infrastructure development, and environmental safety, the "Union County 2050 Comprehensive Plan"… As Sheriff, I know we need to welcome our new residents and let them have visibility on us. Together old and new residents can be a tremendous team to build a safer community/county! 🇺🇸

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Everyone I’ve spoken to in person, except one guy and he said he is voting for Elvis for King, said they’ll vote for me. I’m not a politician, I have not asked any organization to support me, I am not taking a single penny from any donor, I think it could corrupt the Sheriff candidate to take money. I ran in 2022, spent $800 of my own dollars, took no money, campaigned during the state halted election for the two months they gave us, spoke to about 2,000 people and still got about 2,600 votes. Voters that I talked personally to, and voters who wanted the incumbent gone, voted for me with my minimal almost non-existent campaign. The incumbent spent approx 100 times as much money as I did..had I spent that much, I would have won easily. 🇺🇸

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See also

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