Early Voting Begins in NC Primaries – Resources For Early Voting
Early voting is underway across the state of North Carolina, including critical statewide and state legislative contests.
Early voting began February 13 and will continue through February 28 in the primary elections to determine who will move on as party nominees in the general election this fall. Primary elections include statewide contests from US Senator and NC appellate judges to key state legislative seats.
What’s At Stake?
A handful of primaries on the Democratic side will help to shape the contours of the NC General Assembly in 2027, especially in determining whether Gov. Josh Stein can get his vetoes of bad anti-environment legislation sustained. During the 2025 legislative sessions, eight of his 14 vetoes were overturned, despite the fact that House Republicans lacked the “supermajority” number of House members to do so without support from at least one Democrat.
The overturned vetoes include Stein’s attempt to block the so-called “Power Bill Reduction Act.” In fact, that legislation guaranteed more rate hikes and higher profits to Duke Energy by revoking clean renewable energy standards and instead promoting the buildout of more fossil fuel power plants and gas pipelines.
Important Primary Races
Four House Democrats proved to be ready to switch sides and vote with Republican lawmakers to overturn Stein vetoes on several important bills: Representatives Shelly Willingham (House 23—Bertie, Edgecombe, Martin counties), Cecil Brockman (House 60—Guilford County), Nasif Majeed (House 99—Mecklenburg County), and Carla Cunningham (House 106—Mecklenburg County). Three of them are still in the House and seeking re-election: Willingham, Majeed, and Cunningham. All are facing fierce criticism from members of their own party over their votes in favor of veto overrides.
In addition, one former NC House member who broke party ranks to vote in favor of veto overrides in the 2023-24 session, Michael Wray, is seeking a comeback against Rodney Pierce, who narrowly defeated Wray in 2024. Gov. Stein has weighed into that primary with an early endorsement of Rep. Pierce.
Tracking Legislators’ Votes
In the NCLCV Environmental Scorecard for 2025, Representatives Cunningham and Willingham were recognized as notable adversaries of the environment. They were tied for the lowest environmental score of all Democrats in the 2025 NC legislature. As noted in the Scorecard, “In multiple instances, Representatives Cunningham and Willingham are two of a small Democratic enclave that could have a much more impactful influence on getting positive environmental bills passed, yet they consistently vote against the wellbeing of their constituents and the environment.”
See details of the issues and votes included in the 2025 NCLCV Environmental Scorecard.
What’s On Your Ballot?
To see which contests are on your primary ballot, go to NC voter search, fill in your name and county of residence, and after your personal information pops up, scroll down to see your sample ballot for the primary. If you are registered unaffiliated, you will see two possible sample ballots. You can look at both online, but when you actually go to vote you can only ask for one party’s ballot.
See when and where you can vote early in the 2026 primary elections in your county here.
Learn more about the rules for early voting, see here. The primary election day itself is March 3.
Be sure to vote in the 2026 primary elections. Your vote can make a difference for our environment.
