By Sarah Nagem and Ben Rappaport

Bladen County voters will cast ballots in federal, state and local races this fall. 

Early voting begins Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2. See locations and times here. 

Election Day is Nov. 5, when polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Find your polling place and see a sample ballot here. 

At the top of the ballot are six candidates for president, including Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. 

Here are the other contested races: 

US House (District 7)

• David Rouzer. Rouzer, a Wilmington Republican, has represented North Carolina’s 7th Congressional district since 2015. Rouzer touts his conservative views on immigration, abortion and guns. www.davidrouzer.com

• Marlando D. Pridgen. Pridgen, a Whiteville Democrat, says he supports increasing the minimum wage and implementing universal background checks for gun sales. www.pridgenforcongress.com

NC Governor

• Mark Robinson. Robinson, a Republican, has said he does not support abortion at any stage of pregnancy, and he has made controversial comments about the LGBTQ+ community. CNN reported in September that Robinson made inflammatory comments on a pornography website more than a decade ago. Robinson has denied making the posts. www.markrobinsonfornc.com

• Mike Ross. Ross, a Libertarian, says he wants to make the government more transparent, create “free market education” and raise pay for law enforcement.. www.firetheuniparty.com

• Vinny Smith. Smith, a member of the Constitution Party, says he wants to “protect all life,” phase out property taxes and support school choice. www.vinnyfornc.com

• Josh Stein. Stein, a Democrat, has served as state attorney general since 2017. He touts his work to hold opioid manufacturers accountable and clear the state’s backlog of untested rape kits. www.joshstein.org

• Wayne Turner. Turner, a member of the Green Party, says he wants to attract worker-friendly companies, promote worker cooperatives and create a state-owned public bank. www.agreenforgovernor.org

NC Lieutenant Governor

• Rachel Hunt. Hunt, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, currently serves in the state senate. She says her priorities include investing in public schools, expanding access to health care and “fighting for small town economies.” www.rachelhunt.com

• Wayne Jones. Jones, a member of the Constitution Party, has said his top priority is reforming the state Board of Elections. 

• Hal Weatherman. Weatherman, a Republican, says he supports Donald Trump, school choice and pro-life policies. www.halweathermanfornc.com

• Shannon W. Bray. Bray, a Libertarian, says he supports school choice and lowering the corporate tax rate. www.shannonbray.us

NC Attorney General

• Dan Bishop. Bishop, a Republican, currently represents North Carolina’s 8th district in Congress. As attorney general, he says he wants to focus on law and order. www.votedanbishop.com

• Jeff Jackson. Jackson, a Democrat, currently represents North Carolina’s 14th district in Congress. He says his priorities include addressing the fentanyl epidemic and protecting veterans and senior citizens from fraud. www.jeffjacksonnc.com

NC Auditor

• Bob Drach. Drach, a Libertarian, says accountants (not lawyers) should manage the state’s finances. www.electdrach.org

• Jessica Holmes. Holmes, a Democrat, was appointed in November 2023 by Gov. Roy Cooper to finish the term of State Auditor Beth Wood, who resigned. Holmes touts her work to uncover fraud and wasteful spending. www.jessicafornc.com

• Dave Boliek. Boliek, a Republican, says his priorities include auditing the state Department of Motor Vehicles. www.auditordave.com

NC Commissioner of Agriculture

• Sean Haugh. Haugh, a Libertarian, says he supports small government. www.seanhaugh.com

• Sarah Taber. Taber, a Democrat, has a platform that includes investing in rural North Carolina and making it easier for people to become farmers. www.taberfornc.com

• Steve Troxler. Troxler, a Republican, has held the office since 2005. He touts his work to grow agriculture’s economic impact in the state and his creation of the “Got To Be NC” marketing campaign. www.stevetroxler.com

NC Commissioner of Insurance

• Natasha Marcus. Marcus, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, currently serves as a state senator. She says her priorities include ending “excessive rate hikes” and strengthening communities against natural disasters. www.natashamarcus.com

• Mike Causey. Causey, a Republican, has held the office since 2017. He has tangled with Republican legislative leaders, who stripped him of his role as state fire marshal. He also made headlines for reportedly paying a friend as much as $84,000 a year to drive him to work and conferences. bit.ly/4h0g4gN

NC Commissioner of Labor

• Luke Farley. Farley, a Republican, says he will fight to keep North Carolina a right-to-work state and “restore accountability” by putting the labor commissioner’s photograph back in elevators. www.luke4labor.com

• Braxton Winston II. Winston, a Democrat, says he wants to take a “whole worker” approach and advocate for fair pay for all workers. www.votebraxton.com

NC Secretary of State

• Elaine Marshall. Marshall, a Democrat who has held the office since 1997, says she wants to boost the economy in rural North Carolina. www.elainemarshall.com

• Chad Brown. Brown, a Republican, says he wants to protect elections, support innovation and protect customers from fraud and identity theft. www.electchadbrown.com

NC Superintendent of Public Instruction

• Maurice (Mo) Green. Green, a Democrat, says he wants the state to invest more in public education, increase pay for teachers and ensure school safety. www.mogreenfornc.com

• Michele Morrow. Morrow, a Republican, says she supports vouchers for private schools and putting more trained officers in “high priority districts” to reduce crime. www.morrow4nc.com 

NC Treasurer

• Wesley Harris. Harris, a Democrat, says he wants to prepare North Carolina for the future and keep politics out of the treasurer’s office. www.harrisfornc.com

• Brad Briner. Briner, a Republican, says he wants to reform the state retirement plan. www.bradbriner.com

NC Supreme Court (Seat 6)

• Jefferson G. Griffin. Griffin, a Republican, says he “believes in the separation of powers, judicial restraint and the independence of the judiciary.” www.jeffersongriffin.com

• Allison Riggs. Riggs, a Democrat, was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper in 2023 to serve on the state’s highest court. She says her “guiding principles are integrity, transparency, consistency and empathy.” www.riggsforourcourts.com

NC Court of Appeals (Seat 12)

• Tom Murry. Murry, a Republican, is a former state legislator. He says he wants to “apply the law, not create it.” www.jointom.com

• Carolyn Jennings Thompson. Thompson, a Republican, is a former district court and superior court judge. She says justice “is independent of party affiliation, divisive ideologies, and social differences.” www.judgecarolynthompson.com

NC Court of Appeals (Seat 14)

• Ed Eldred. Eldred, a Democrat, says he will “preserve the rights of all North Carolinians and restore balance to the Court.” www.eldredforjudge.com

• Valerie Zachary. Zachary, a Republican, has served on the court since 2015. She says she “has proven to be a conservative judge committed to upholding North Carolina’s Constitution.” www.reelectjudgezachary.com

NC Court of Appeals (Seat 15)

• Chris Freeman. Freeman, a Republican, is currently a district court judge. He says he wants to bring a “steadfast commitment to conservative judicial philosophy to the appellate court level, serving all North Carolinians.” www.chrisfreemanforjudge.com

• Martin E. Moore. Moore, a Democrat, is an appellate attorney. He says everyone should “feel confident their judges will hear their case and rule on the merits, not focus on partisanship and extremist beliefs.” www.martinforjudge.com

NC Senate (District 9)

• Brent Jackson. Jackson, a Sampson County Republican whose district includes Bladen, is seeking his eighth term in office. Jackson, a farmer, is one of the state senate’s main budget writers. www.brentjacksonforsenate.com

• Jamie Campbell Bowles. Campbell Bowles, a Sampson County Democrat and nurse, says her priorities include supporting rural hospitals and upgrading infrastructure. She ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022. www.jcb4nc.com

NC House (District 22)

• William Brisson. Brisson, a Bladen County Republican who has served in the state House since 2007, wants another term in office. He was a Democrat until he switched parties in 2017. 

• Joshua Harrell. Harrell, a Democrat from Sampson County, says he wants to push for $50,000 salaries for teachers. www.x.com/joshharrellnc

Bladen County Board of Commissioners

Only one race for county commission is contested. Mark Gillespie, a Democrat, faces three challengers: Republicans David R. Gooden and Ray Britt, and Democrat G. Michael Cogdell. 

Bladen County Board of Education

District 3 is the only contested school board race. Kimbrie Esters and Chris Clark are vying for the seat.