Here are The News & Observer’s endorsements in 2026 primary elections
Early voting is underway in North Carolina’s primary election, which will take place on Tuesday, March 3. Voters in the Triangle will see a wide range of federal, state and local races on their ballot. More information about our endorsement process can be found here. For more information on the candidates themselves and how to vote, check out The News & Observer’s voter guide.
Links to the Editorial Board’s endorsements are below:
N&O endorsement: Our choice in the race for Wake County District Attorney
N&O endorsements: Our choices in Wake County’s state House and Senate primaries
N&O endorsement: Our choice in the 4th Congressional District’s Democratic primary
N&O endorsement: Our choice in the 13th Congressional District’s Democratic primary
N&O endorsements: Our choices for Wake County Board of Commissioners
US Senate endorsement: For NC voters in GOP primary, who can hold off Cooper
Endorsements: Our choices in NC Court of Appeals 2026 primaries
N&O endorsements: Our choices in the Raleigh City Council primaries
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREHow we do our endorsements
Members of the combined Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer editorial boards are conducting interviews and research of candidates in municipal and state elections. The combined board is led by N.C. Opinion Editor Peter St. Onge, who is joined in Raleigh by deputy Opinion editor Ned Barnett and in Charlotte by deputy Opinion editor Paige Masten. Board members also include Observer editor Rana Cash and News & Observer editor Nicole Stockdale.
The editorial board also talks with others who know the candidates and have worked with them. When we’ve completed our interviews and research, we discuss each race and decide on our endorsements.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM.