Rockingham County GOP primary includes candidate party tried to remove in 2024
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Republican incumbent Reece Pyrtle holds the Rockingham County seat.
- Gibson responded; he has felony convictions and had ballot eligibility challenged.
- The News & Observer published questionnaires and listed respondents for HD 65.
To help voters learn which candidates are on their ballot and where they stand on important policy issues, The News & Observer is publishing candidate questionnaires in all state and federal races in North Carolina on the March 3, 2026, ballot.
Below are the candidates running for NC House District 65 who responded to our questionnaire, in order by the date their responses were received. Some candidates did not provide a photo.
The Rockingham County seat is held by Republican Rep. Reece Pyrtle. The two challengers in the Republican primary are Seth Woodall and Joseph Gibson. Gibson responded to the questionnaire; Pyrtle and Woodall did not.
In 2024, a Republican strategist referred to candidate Gibson, who has been convicted of felonies, as a “Nazi” — which he denied — and his eligibility to be on the ballot was challenged by Republicans, The N&O previously reported. The State Board of Elections allowed him to remain on the ballot. Pyrtle defeated Gibson in the 2024 primary, as well as in 2022.
Gibson’s questionnaire responses are below.
Joseph A Gibson III
Age as of March 3, 2026: 53
Political party: Republican
Campaign website: https://joegibsonishome.wixsite.com/my-site-2/platform
Current occupation: Political candidate
Professional experience: My entire has been an experience within itself on all and both sides of the system itself, having been a victim surviving two near-death experiences all while working for the government in the most dangerous places on earth, I have learned the hard way the people you should be able to trust, you cannot and many times have let me down.
Education: Currently in school for theology
Please list any notable government or civic involvement: Worked undercover for the DEA
What is the most important issue in your district and what do you want to do about it? End property taxes.
The legislature sets teacher base pay. What do you think the salary range should be for teachers, from starting to 30+ experience? Teacher pay should be high enough to attract good educators, but not so inflated that it burdens taxpayers or outpaces what the local economy can support. A structured range from the low‑$40,000s for new teachers to the low‑$70,000s for veterans strikes a responsible balance.
As of January, North Carolina was the last state not to have passed a new, comprehensive budget. What would you do to help make sure a budget passes? Passing a budget on time isn’t complicated — it just requires discipline. Set clear deadlines, keep the budget focused on essentials, and maintain transparency so the process doesn’t get hijacked by last‑minute fights.
North Carolina’s income tax rate for individual taxpayers is 3.99%. Should that be reduced further? Yes.
Do you think the state is using taxpayer money efficiently? Why or why not? North Carolina does some things well, but there’s still too much waste, too much bureaucracy, and not enough accountability. Taxpayer dollars should be treated with respect, and that means focusing on core services, cutting inefficiencies and demanding real results from every program.
Do you support legalizing medical marijuana use? Why or why not? I’m open to medical marijuana if it’s truly medical — prescribed by doctors, tightly regulated and focused on serious conditions. But I don’t support anything that becomes a stepping‑stone to recreational use or weakens public safety. Compassion matters, but so does responsibility.
What do you see as the biggest barrier to health care access in your district, and what actions would you take to address it? The biggest barrier in District 65 is the shortage of local providers. The best way to fix that is through targeted incentives, stronger telehealth options, and support for community‑based clinics — not massive new spending. Rural residents deserve access to care close to home, and we can achieve that with practical, fiscally responsible solutions.
