Preview local candidates appearing on November ballot

Matthew Sasser, Richmond County Daily Journal, Rockingham, N.C.
·2 min read

Dec. 21—ROCKINGHAM — The 2024 candidate filing period ended on Friday, Dec. 15 — See what candidates will be on the ballot next November.

From the Richmond County Board of Commissioners, Jeff Smart, Toni Maples and Andy Grooms (all registered Republicans) have all filed for re-election. They are joined by Jamie Gathings of Hamlet.

Democratic candidates who are seeking the all-Republican commissioners are Linda Ross, Deborah Washington Crumpton and Cassandra DeeDee Wall. Ross ran for a seat 2022.

Richard Robinson, a Libertarian candidate, is also vying for a spot on the Board.

On the Richmond County School Board of Education, Jerry Ethridge and Ronald Tillman will be seeking re-election. Bess Shuler has also filed after unsuccessfully running for the position in 2022. The candidates are also joined by newcomer Michael Veach. Current Chairman Wiley Mabe did not file for re-election.

Kimberly Roberts, who has already been sworn in as the Register of Deeds to replace the now-retired Linda Douglas, is running unopposed for the office.

District Court Judges Amanda Wilson and Sophia Gatewood are running unopposed for their seats in Richmond and Anson County respectively.

House of Representatives District 52 will be contested between Republican-incumbent Ben Moss of Rockingham and Democrat Jimmy Self of Aberdeen.

NC State Senate District 29 will be contested between Republican-incumbent Dave Craven of Asheboro and Democrat Kevin Clark of Rockingham.

Richmond County is split between two Congressional districts — NC 08 and 09.

Nigel Bristow of Hamlet has filed to run against current Congressman Richard Hudson in the 9th Congressional District. Bristow unsuccessfully ran against Mark Gulledge for Sheriff in 2022.

Dan Bishop has decided to run for the 8th Congressional District, and is instead running for Attorney General. Those running for the position are Democrats Keith Davenport and Justin Dues, and Republicans vying for the position are Rockingham-native Chris Maples, Allan Baucom, John Bradford III, Don Brown, Leigh Brown, and Mark Harris. Their Primary election will be on March 5.

There are many candidates running for the governorship; Josh Stein is the top contender in the Democratic field, and Republican candidates include Dale Folwell, Mark Robinson and Bill Graham.