Here are races to watch as Scotland County voters go to the polls for May 17 primary

By Sarah Nagem

sarahnagem@borderbelt.org

Scotland County voters will go to the polls on May 17 to cast ballots for seats ranging from the local board of commissioners to the U.S. Senate. Their votes will help set the ballot for the general election in November.

Here are some key points ahead of the election:

  • Carol McCall, a member of the Scotland County Board of Commissioners, faces two challengers in the Democratic primary.
  • As a result of redistricting, Charlotte Republican Dan Bishop will no longer represent Scotland County in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Concord Republican, is running for the District 9 seat, where he faces three primary challengers.
  • Statewide, a very crowded field of candidates is running for the U.S. Senate, including former N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory and U.S. House member Ted Budd, both Republicans, and Democrat Cheri Beasley, former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Incumbent Sen. Richard Burr, a Republican, is not seeking re-election.
  • Voters in Laurinburg will elect members to the City Council on May 17. The elections were supposed to take place last year, but the date was changed due to redistricting.

Scotland County has about 20,600 registered voters, according to the N.C. State Board of Elections.

In primary elections, voters must fill out a ballot associated with their registered political party. Unaffiliated voters can choose which party’s ballot to fill out. 

Scotland County has about 10,000 registered Democrats, 4,200 registered Republicans and 6,300 unaffiliated voters, data shows.

Scotland County Board of Commissioners (Stewartsville Twp.)

Democrats:

Carol McCall, Laurinburg (incumbent)

Darwin (Duke) Williams, Laurinburg

Tracey Dockery Williams, Laurinburg

(No Republican primary)

Scotland County Clerk of Superior Court

Democrats:

W. Philip McRae, Laurinburg

Scott Sellers, Laurinburg

(No Republican primary)

U.S. House (District 9)

Republicans:

Richard Hudson, Concord

Francisco Rios, Charlotte

Mike Andriani, Fayetteville 

Jen Bucardo, Asheboro 

(No Democratic primary)

U.S. Senate

Democrats:

James L. Carr, Jr., Harrisburg

Robert Colon, Wallace

Alyssia Rose-Katherine Hammond, Raleigh

Constance (Lov) Johnson, Charlotte

Tobias LaGrone, Greensboro

B. K. Maginnis, Charlotte

Rett Newton, Beaufort

Marcus W. Williams, Lumberton

Greg Antoine, Fayetteville

Cheri Beasley, Raleigh

Chrelle Booker, Tryon

Republicans: 

Marjorie K. Eastman, Cary

David Flaherty, Cameron

Benjamin E. Griffiths,

Kenneth Harper, Jr., Archdale

Pat McCrory, Charlotte

Charles Kenneth Moss, Randleman

Lichia Sibhatu, Raleigh

Debora Tshiovo, Moravian Falls

Mark Walker, Summerfield

Jen Banwart, Fuquay-Varina

Ms. Lee A. Brian, Clayton

Leonard L. Bryant, Fayetteville

Ted Budd, Advance

Drew Bulecza, Lincolnton

N.C. Supreme Court Associate Justice (Seat 05)

Republicans:

Victoria E. Prince, Greensboro

April C. Wood, Lexington

Trey Allen, Hillsborough

(No Democratic primary)

N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 09)

Republicans:

Beth Freshwater Smith, Wilson

Donna Stroud, Garner

(No Democratic primary)

N.C. Court of Appeals (Seat 11)

Republicans:

Michael J. Stading, Charlotte

Charlton L. Allen, Mooresville

Laurinburg City Council (at-large)

James Garby (incumbent)

Barbara Chanei Rogers

Laurinburg City Council (District 01)

Mary Evans (incumbent)

James F. Thomas Sr.

Laurinburg City Council (District 02)

Donald Anderson Jr.

Drew Williamson (incumbent)

Laurinburg City Council (District 01 unexpired)

Rosemary Rainer