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2026 General Election · November 3, 2026

Buncombe County Candidate Guide

This guide is nonpartisan voter education. It does not support or oppose any candidate or political party. Any endorsements shown were made by the organizations named, not by this guide.

How to read this guide

  • Every candidate on the ballot for each contest below is listed, in alphabetical order by last name.
  • Every candidate is described with the same kinds of information: which organizations have endorsed them, how they voted on a set list of abortion-related bills (or vetoed them, for a governor), and what they have said publicly, taken from public records and their own statements.
  • Endorsements are listed for every candidate from the same set of organizations, shown at the end of this guide. Other organizations may also have endorsed a candidate.
  • Where nothing was found, the guide says so. That is not a judgment about the candidate.
  • The bill list is the same for every candidate. Which bills are listed was chosen by the guide's publisher, so other bills may also matter to you.

This guide covers U.S. Senate, U.S. House, N.C. Supreme Court, N.C. Court of Appeals, N.C. Senate and N.C. House contests. It does not cover Superior Court, District Court, district attorney, or county and local contests. Some counties are split between districts, so you may not vote in every contest shown. Check the contests on your own ballot using the State Board of Elections voter lookup.

Look up your ballot: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/

U.S. Senate

Shannon W. Bray · Libertarian

Endorsed by

No endorsements found from the listed organizations.

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

The candidate describes his position as "Pro-choice" and states that he does not agree with abortion but that the government has no right to ban it.

In the candidate’s words: “Pro-choice, I don't agree but the government has no right to ban it.”

Sources: isidewith.com

Roy Cooper · Democratic

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Reproductive Freedom for All

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 359 (2019): Vetoed
  • SB 20 (2023): Vetoed

Public statements

As governor, the candidate vetoed the state's 12-week abortion law. According to the campaign platform, the candidate supports "defending reproductive rights" and keeping "politicians out of the doctor's exam room."

Sources: news.ballotpedia.org

Michael Dublin · Green

Endorsed by

No endorsements found from the listed organizations.

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

The candidate states support for the right of women to determine the care they deem necessary, including abortion, regardless of their ability to pay.

In the candidate’s words: “I support the right of women to full reproductive freedom and to determine the degree of technological intervention, including abortion, which they deem necessary for their own care and protection, regardless of their ability to pay.”

Sources: northcarolinahealthnews.org

Michael Whatley · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • SBA Pro-Life America

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

As RNC chair, the candidate described himself as "the most pro-life chair in the history of the Republican Party." The candidate has said he will fight to "ensure that we have pro-life majorities" in Congress.

In the candidate’s words: “the most pro-life chair in the history of the Republican Party”

Sources: news.ballotpedia.org; axios.com

U.S. House, District 11

Jamie Ager · Democratic

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Reproductive Freedom for All

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

The candidate describes himself as "pro-choice and pro-family" and expresses support for abortion access.

In the candidate’s words: “pro-choice and pro-family”

Sources: reproductivefreedomforall.org/lawmaker/jamie-ager; ballotpedia.org/Jamie_Ager; battlegroundvote.com/north-carolina/jamie-ager

Jennifer Capps Balkcom · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • SBA Pro-Life America

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: sbaprolife.org; northcarolinahealthnews.org; cardinalpine.com

Travis Groo · Libertarian

Endorsed by

No endorsements found from the listed organizations.

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

The candidate describes himself as "pro-life and pro-choice." He states that he personally believes an unborn child is alive and that abortion is immoral, that the state's involvement is not appropriate, and that he respects an individual's right to choose.

In the candidate’s words: “pro-life and pro-choice”

Sources: justfacts.votesmart.org; aol.com; lpnc.org

N.C. Supreme Court, Seat 1

Anita Earls · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Pro-Choice NC PAC
  • Lillian's List
  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic
  • Reproductive Freedom for All
  • EMILY's List

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

The candidate has publicly criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade.

Sources: reproductivefreedomforall.org; emilyslist.org/candidate/anita-earls; wunc.org

Sarah Stevens · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 20 (2023): Yes

Public statements

As a legislator, the candidate presented North Carolina's 12-week abortion law on the House floor and spoke in support of it.

In the candidate’s words: “We are pleased that the unborn will be recognized as having a fundamental right to be born... The things in this bill are not obstacles to abortion. They're safeguards. We seek to balance protecting unborn babies while ensuring the safe care of mothers.”

Sources: wunc.org; ncnewsline.com; sites.ncleg.gov

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 1

John S. Arrowood · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: plannedparenthoodaction.org

Michael C. Byrne · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 2

George Cooper Bell · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

In a questionnaire response, the candidate stated a belief that all humans have the right to life.

In the candidate’s words: “Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.”

Sources: ivoterguide.com/candidate/89706

Tobias (Toby) Hampson · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: plannedparenthoodaction.org

N.C. Court of Appeals, Seat 3

Craig Collins · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Christine Marie Walczyk · Democratic

Endorsed by

  • Lillian's List
  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: plannedparenthoodaction.org

N.C. Senate, District 46

Warren Daniel · Republican · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 359 (2019): Yes
  • HB 465 (2015): Yes
  • SB 20 (2023): Yes

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: ncstatesenate.com; thepaper.media; lifevote.net

Kyle Whisnant · Democratic

Endorsed by

No endorsements found from the listed organizations.

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: burkedems.org; freasframes.com

N.C. Senate, District 49

CJ Domingo · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: freasframes.com; oppintell.com

Julie Mayfield · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Pro-Choice NC PAC
  • Lillian's List
  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 20 (2023): No

Public statements

According to the campaign website, the candidate lists women's and LGBTQ+ rights as a core issue and says women in North Carolina have less ability to access abortion than previous generations.

In the candidate’s words: “Women living in North Carolina right now have less ability to access abortion than our mothers did”

Sources: mayfieldforncsenate.com/issues; senatorjuliemayfield.com

N.C. House, District 114

Eric Ager · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 20 (2023): No
  • SB 378 (2025): No

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: nchousedems.com; ncleg.gov

N.C. House, District 115

Anthony J. Penland · Republican

Endorsed by

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition

Recorded votes and vetoes

No recorded votes or vetoes on the listed bills.

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: theblueridgetimes.com; ballotpedia Anthony_Penland

Lindsey Prather · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Pro-Choice NC PAC
  • Lillian's List
  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic
  • Reproductive Freedom for All
  • EMILY's List

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 20 (2023): No
  • SB 378 (2025): No

Public statements

As a legislator, the candidate co-introduced a joint House/Senate bill to codify Roe v. Wade with Casey protections in North Carolina.

Sources: cardinalpine.com; facebook PratherForNC

N.C. House, District 116

Brian Turner · Democratic · Incumbent

Endorsed by

  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic

Recorded votes and vetoes

  • SB 359 (2019): No
  • HB 465 (2015): No
  • SB 378 (2025): No

Public statements

No public statement found.

Sources: NC_Abortion_Life_Bills_Voting_Record

Organizations whose endorsements are listed

  • North Carolina Right to Life PAC
  • NC Values Coalition
  • SBA Pro-Life America
  • Pro-Choice NC PAC
  • Lillian's List
  • Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Reproductive Freedom for All
  • EMILY's List

North Carolina Right to Life PAC recommendations come from its 2026 county voter guides (October 11, 2026). The other organizations’ endorsements come from their published endorsement lists.

Bills listed

  • SB 359 (2019), Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
  • HB 465 (2015), Women and Children's Protection Act (72-hour waiting period, qualified-physician requirement, maternal mortality review committee)
  • SB 20 (2023), Care for Women, Children, and Families Act (12-week limit), including the vote to override the governor's veto
  • SB 378 (2025), Medicaid eligibility bill with provision ending Planned Parenthood's Medicaid contracts

Information current as of October 11, 2026 and drawn from public legislative records, campaign materials and candidate statements. It may be incomplete or out of date. Votes are shown as recorded; a vote can have many reasons behind it. Always check a candidate’s own materials.

This information was sourced from publicly available sources, and could contain errors. Please validate this information, and let us know of any errors at info@ncrtl.org.