# NC March 2026 Primaries - What You Need to Know Before Election Day

February 27, 2026

> With Primary Election Day just days away on March 3, 2026, we're publishing this timely roundup to help you stay ahead of races that could significantly reshape the NC General Assembly.

The March 3 primary is days away — and the results will determine the races in November that could reshape North Carolina's legislative landscape heading into the 2027-2028 session. At Roboro, we've been tracking these races since the start of the year. We published two in-depth early looks at the primary field back in January and we're back with a timely roundup as Election Day approaches.

Here’s what you need to know.

## Roboro Gave you an Early Look at NC Primary Elections

Back in January, our team published early previews of the March primary races — well before most news outlets had taken a deep look at the full field:

- [Part I: NC Senate Primaries Preview →](https://roboro.ai/blog/ncga-early-look-at-north-carolina-state-primaries-2026-part-i) Published January 5, 2026 — a comprehensive look at all 50 Senate seats, contested primaries, and who's running unopposed.
- [Part II: NC House of Representatives Primaries Preview →](https://roboro.ai/blog/ncga-march-primaries-2026-preview-part-ii-north-carolina-house-of-representatives) Published January 12, 2026 — a full breakdown of House primaries, open seats, and races that could shift the balance of power.

If you haven't read them yet, they remain the most comprehensive single-source overviews of the primary field. Here's a quick summary of the key takeaways — and what's happened since.

## Recent News: What's Developed Since January

The primary landscape has heated up significantly since we first published our previews. Here are the major developments worth tracking:

- **The Berger–Page Race Has Gone National** - The Republican primary in Senate District 26 has become arguably the most-watched state legislative primary in the country. Polls show a tight race, President Trump has endorsed incumbent Sen. Phil Berger, and groups on both sides have flooded the district with advertising.
- **NC Educators on the Ballot** - A grassroots group called [NC Educators on the Ballot (NCEOB)](https://www.ednc.org/north-carolinas-2026-primary-elections-what-you-need-to-know/) is running six current and former teachers in Republican House primaries across eight counties — including Catawba, Davidson, Granville, Henderson, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Vance, and Wake.
- **Gov. Stein Endorses in House District 106** - In one of the most closely watched Democratic House primaries, [Governor Josh Stein has endorsed Rodney Sadler](https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/north-carolina-governor-endorses-rodney-sadler-charlotte-primary-2026/) over incumbent Rep. Carla Cunningham in District 106 (Mecklenburg).
- **Early Voting Is Already Underway** - [Early voting began February 12 and ends Saturday, February 28 at 3 p.m.](https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/02/27/primary-elections-early-voting-2026) Primary Election Day is Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m.
- **Supermajority Stakes in Both Chambers** - Republicans hold a bare supermajority in the Senate (30–20) and are one seat shy of a supermajority in the House (71–49).

## NC Senate: Key Takeaways

**For the full breakdown, read our** [**NC Senate Primaries Preview →**](https://roboro.ai/blog/ncga-early-look-at-north-carolina-state-primaries-2026-part-i)

- **14 out of 50 Senate districts** are holding primary elections in March.
- **Senator Bobby Hanig (R – District 1) is not running for re-election** — he's filed for the U.S. House District 1 seat.
- **7 Republican incumbents** are in contested primaries, including the landmark District 26 race.
- **2 Democratic incumbents are in primaries** — Senators Chitlik (D – District 22) and Lowe (D – District 32).
- **5 incumbents are running unopposed in November (all Democrats)**: Senators Murdock, Garrett, Robinson, Mohammed, and Salvador.
- **Republican supermajority is at risk** — a loss of just one Republican seat ends their 30–20 supermajority.

## NC House: Key Takeaways

**For the full breakdown, read our** [**NC House Primaries Preview →**](https://roboro.ai/blog/ncga-march-primaries-2026-preview-part-ii-north-carolina-house-of-representatives)

- **42 out of 120 House districts** are holding primary elections in March.
- **9 incumbents are not seeking re-election** (8 Republicans, 1 Democrat), guaranteeing at least 9 new House members.
- **22 Republican incumbents have primary challengers** — the most for the party since 2010.
- **8 Democratic incumbents are in primaries**, including 3 who voted with Republicans on veto overrides.
- **20 incumbents are running unopposed in November** (19 Democrats, 1 Republican).
- **Republicans are one seat short of a House supermajority**.

## Key Districts to Watch

### SENATE — District 26 (Guilford & Rockingham Counties)

- Sen. Phil Berger (R) vs. Sam Page (R)

| **Sen. Phil Berger (R)** | **Sam Page (R)** |
| --- | --- |
|  |  |

- **Why it matters**: If Berger loses, the Senate will need a new leader heading into 2027.

### HOUSE — District 79 (Beaufort, Dare, Hyde & Pamlico Counties)

- Rep. Keith Kidwell (R) vs. Darren Armstrong (R)

| **Rep. Keith Kidwell (R)** | **Darren Armstrong (R)** |
| --- | --- |
|  |  |

### HOUSE — District 106 (Mecklenburg County)

- Rep. Carla Cunningham (D) vs. Vermanno Bowman (D) vs. Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler (D)

| **Rep. Carla Cunningham (D)** | **Vermanno Bowman (D)** | **Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler (D)** |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |

### HOUSE — District 27 (Halifax, Northampton & Warren Counties)

- Rep. Rodney Pierce (D) vs. Michael Wray (D)

| **Rep. Rodney Pierce (D)** | **Michael Wray (D)** |
| --- | --- |
|  |  |

## The Bigger Picture: What's at Stake for the 2027 Session

For anyone engaged in advocacy, lobbying, or legislative affairs in North Carolina, the results of these primaries are worth watching beyond election night. Here's why:

- **Leadership changes** matter.
- **The supermajority question**.
- **Open seats equal new relationships**.

| **Date** | **Milestone** |
| --- | --- |
| February 28, 2026 | Early voting ends (3 p.m.) |
| March 3, 2026 | Primary Election Day |
| May 12, 2026 | Primary Runoff Elections (if no candidate clears 30%) |
| April 21, 2026 | Start of NCGA 2026 Short Session |
| November 3, 2026 | General Election |