2026 Primary Candidates
Listed in the order they appear on
Henderson County's 2026 Democratic Primary Ballot
US Senate
​Daryl Farrow is a U.S. Navy veteran. He was born in Trenton, N.C. and attended Jones County Public Schools as a child. He went to community college in Lenoir County and Craven County before going to Kansas State University. He is a businessman, husband, and father. (No website found.) ​​
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Justin E. Dues was born in Coldwater, Ohio, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2003 to 2012. He holds degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and he is currently a Technology Commercialization Counselor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is known for his commitment to addressing issues like climate change and wealth inequality. Learn more here.
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Roy Cooper served as the 75th governor of North Carolina from 2017 to 2025 and was the 50th attorney general of the state, serving from 2001 to 2017. His campaign focuses on affordability and health insurance, parallel to his work in these leadership roles. Cooper also served in the NC General Assembly from 1987 to 2001. He was born in Nash County, where he attended public schools and worked summers on the farm before earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Learn more here.
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Robert Colon is a family care giver, community volunteer and proud Eagle Scout. His campaign focuses on a comprehensive approach to crime, immigration, international peace, tax reform, and the American values of freedom, justice and unity. Learn more here.
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Marcus W. Williams has a background in law and public service, having worked as an attorney and Assistant Public Defender. His campaign focuses on issues such as economic development, housing, and job creation. He aims to address the housing shortage and transportation challenges facing the state. Learn more here.
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Orrick Quick is a pastor from High Point and a former N.C. State football player who has previously run for the High Point City Council. In addition to his ministry at New Covenant Church, he briefly co-hosted a 2016 Fox TV talk show called "The Preachers." In his campaign, he draws upon the lessons he has learned from the struggles and adversity he has faced in his life. Learn more here.
NC District 11 US House of Representatives
Zelda Briarwood is running a campaign focused on advocating for the community’s power to bring change and expanding and protecting essential federal services like Social Security and Medicare from cuts or privatization. She has a background in psychology and has worked in wilderness therapy, crisis services, and case management. www.Zeldaforcongress.org
Jamie Ager is a fourth-generation farmer from Fairview and owner of Hickory Nut Gap Farm. His campaign focuses on community-driven solutions, sustainable agriculture, and effective responses to natural disasters. Ager believes the persistent effects of natural disasters are urgent matters requiring more effective federal responses. www.agerforcongress.com
Lee Whipple is a licensed civil engineer with a degree from Georgia Institute of Technology. He credits his experience working with infrastructure to give him a foundation for dealing with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (No website found.)
Paul Maddox is a fifth-generation North Carolinian, cancer researcher and UNC-Chapel Hill professor who is regarded as a visionary in the field of biotechnology. His campaign focuses on fighting to lower costs, making health care affordable, and ensuring our government works for the people it represents. www.maddoxforcongress.com
Richard Hudspeth is a physician and former CEO of Blue Ridge Health. His campaign focuses on ensuring affordable healthcare for all, strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, and addressing the rising costs of living. He is campaigning against the predicted impacts of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which is expected to cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid. www.richardhudspethforcongress.com/
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North Carolina Court of Appeals
James Weldon Whalen holds a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina School of Law. His law practice has been focused on appellate cases and democratic causes. He has fought gerrymandering, defended our right to vote (and have that vote count), and more in state and federal appellate courts. His campaign focuses on reforming our state appellate courts to protect our rights. He was one of the attorneys on the Allison Riggs case. He served as a lawyer for Josh Stein’s Department of Justice and is now in private practice. Whalenfornc.com
Christine Marie Walczyk graduated magna cum laude from the Boston College Carroll School of Management and completed her Juris Doctor at the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. She has been serving as a district court trial judge in Wake County for 18 years. She has worked to safeguard the fundamental rights and liberties of those who appeared in her courtroom with well-reasoned, swift, and nonpartisan decisions. Her campaign focuses on the public's loss of confidence in the court system, a cornerstone of our democracy. www.judgechristine.org