Most Sheriffs in North Carolina Those seeking reelection managed to retain their nominations after the primary elections, according to preliminary results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE).
Only Rowan County saw a surprise: Sheriff Travis Allen lost the Republican primary to Jody Burleyson. Allen secures his leadership in that county, as there are no Democratic candidates running for the position in the general election.
Outstanding results of incumbent marshals
| County | Alguacil | Result |
| Durham | Clarence Birkhead | He won the Democratic primary, he advances to the general election |
| Orange | Charles Blackwood | He won the Democratic primary, he advances to the general election |
| Mecklenburg | Garry McFadden | He won the Democratic primary, he advances to the general election |
| Forsyth | Bobby Kimbrough | It advances automatically; there was no primary opposition. |
| Johnston | Steve Bizzell | He won the Republican primary; he advances to the general election |
| Alamance | Terry Johnson | He won the Republican primary; he advances to the general election |
| Rowan | Travis Allen | He lost the Republican primary to Jody Burleyson |
In addition to these high-profile cases, the vast majority of other incumbent sheriffs seeking reelection across the state They also made progress in their primariesconsolidating continuity in most of North Carolina's law enforcement departments.
In total, fifty-seven of North Carolina's 100 sheriffs faced primary elections in March 2026.
Related: Valerie Foushee won the Democratic primary
Alamance County
Sheriff Terry S. Johnson, a Republican, retained his nomination with 8,384 votes (57,18%) after Tuesday's primary in Alamance County, defeating Billy Clayton and Dana Byrd Pasour.
County Durham
Sheriff Clarence F. Birkhead, a Democrat, retained his nomination with 49,649 votes (85,82%), a wide margin over opponent Johnny D. Hawkins.
Mecklenburg County
Sheriff Garry L. McFadden, a Democrat, retained his nomination in Tuesday's primary in Mecklenburg County, with 33,422 votes (33,79%), narrowly edging out Ricky Ricardo Robbins, who received 30,705 votes (31,04%). Rodney M. Collins and Antwain Nance finished third and fourth, respectively.
Orange County
Sheriff Charles Blackwood, a Democrat, retained his nomination, with 16,365 votes (58,41%), beating David LaBarre, who obtained 11,651 votes (41,59%).
Johnston County
Sheriff Steve Bizzell, a Republican, retained his nomination in the primary with 13,657 votes (75,38%), easily beating his opponent Randy Ackley.
Rowan County
Incumbent Republican Sheriff Travis Allen lost Tuesday's primary to Jody Burleyson, who garnered 6,173 votes (48,74%) to Allen's 5,248 votes (41,43%). Other candidates included Tim Harrington and Carl Dangerfield.
What is the role of the bailiffs?
Sheriffs are primarily responsible for public safety in North Carolina counties and play a key role in the administration of local justice. Their most important duties include:
- County jail operation: They supervise the custody and care of detainees.
- Law enforcement: They investigate crimes, patrol rural and urban areas, and coordinate with local and state police.
- Execute court orders: It includes summonses, evictions, seizures, and court security.
- Community Programs: Many sheriffs administer crime prevention, road safety, and victim support initiatives.
- Department administration: They control budgets, supervise staff, and define local public safety policies.
PODCAST
After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.
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