North Carolina Ballot: Sen. Race and Tax Limits

North Carolina voters will select a U.S. Senate representative on Tuesday, November 3, in a contest that has drawn national attention due to the absence of incumbent Republican Thom Tillis. The race determines the partisan balance of the federal chamber, with former Governor Roy Cooper running against Michael Whatley. Cooper, who served as governor from 2017 to 2025, has emphasized affordable living and bipartisan collaboration. Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, has focused his campaign on crime, illegal immigration, and the economy. Neither candidate currently holds a seat in the U.S. Senate.

The ballot also includes four state legislative contests. In U.S. House District 14, incumbent Tim Moore faces Lakesha Womack. Moore, who previously served as speaker of the North Carolina House for 10 years, campaigns on fiscal responsibility. Womack, a financial services professional, has no prior elected office experience. In N.C. Senate District 37, incumbent Vickie Sawyer runs against Raygan Angel, a law student and Democratic organizer. Sawyer chairs the state Senate Transportation Committee. In N.C. House District 98, incumbent Beth Helfrich faces John Rhodes, a former Cornelius town commissioner. Helfrich, elected in 2024, highlighted her first-term focus on resident communication and responsible growth. Rhodes emphasizes roads, transportation, and cost of living.

Mecklenburg County offices are largely uncontested on the general election ballot. Leigh Altman, Yvette Townsend-Ingram, and Arthur Griffin Jr. run unopposed for three at-large commissioner seats. Morris McAdoo runs unopposed for District 1 commissioner. Elisa Chinn-Gary runs unopposed for clerk of Superior Court. Garry McFadden runs unopposed for county sheriff after winning a four-way Democratic primary earlier this year with no Republican opponent listed.

Voters will also weigh three constitutional amendments. Amendment 1 requires all voters to present photo identification, expanding the requirement beyond those voting in person. Amendment 2 caps the state income tax rate at 3.5%. Amendment 3 mandates limits on property tax increases by local governments. Cornelius commissioners adopted a resolution opposing Amendment 3 earlier this year. The local body argued the measure would reduce local control and hinder towns from funding essential services.

Local town positions, including mayor and town commissioner, are not up for election until next year. The current ballot focuses on federal, state, and county levels. Republicans hold 71 of the 120 seats in the state House, one seat short of the three-fifths majority required for a veto-proof supermajority. Helfrich is one of the Democratic candidates elected in the 2024 cycle. The outcome of the state races will affect the legislative balance in Raleigh.