By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County has 22 residents who
will likely be on the candidate roster
for the 2026 primary and general
elections.
The numbers make the primary
more important than ever in the local
races with 11 county commission
and seven school board candidates
vying for three seats on each board.
Incumbent sheriff Mark Buchanan
is facing a challenge in the
Republican primary from former,
one-term sheriff Joe Shook, both
Republicans.
Shook ran in 2022 against Buchanan,
but did not make it through
the primary. Buchanan is vying to
serve his second four-year term.
Three of the incumbent commissioners,
Rob Peck, Scotty Penland
and Clay Logan are not seeking reelection.
In the school board race, the only
incumbent to fi le is Chairman Jason
Shook. Robbie Caldwell and Kelly
Crawford did not.
The primary for 2026 is March
3 and the general election is Nov.
3. Unaffi liated candidates will have
until noon on primary day to submit
their petitions with 4 percent of registered
voters’ names.
For many candidates it is their fi rst
foray into local politics. The Progress
will run its tradition question and
answer segment with each candidate
prior to the primary. Candidates are
ask to contact us with your phone
number, photo and email address.
Send information to: publisher@
claycountyprogress.com.
Here’s the updated list as of the
candidate filing closing period on
Friday:
Clay County Board of
Commissioners
Robert Seibert (R)
Dwight S. McClure, Sr. (R)
Tighe White (R)
Bonnye Williams (R)
Christian Reagan (R)
Jason A. Rickett (R)
Andy James (R)
George Denham (R)
Keyla Youngblood-Stillwell (D)
Sandy Zimmerman (U)
Ronnie Byers (U)
Clay County Board
Of Education
Jason Shook (R)
Keith Parker (R)
Jessica McClure (U)
Keith Parker (R)
Kevin Crawford (R)
Brett Woody (R)
Reba Beck (R)
Clay County Clerk Of Superior
Court
J. Tim Barrett (R)
Clay County Register Of Deeds
Angie Shook (R)
Clay County Sheriff
Mark Buchanan (R)
Joe Shook (R)
U.S. Senate:
Roy Cooper (D)
Daryl Farrow (D)
Marcus W. Williams (D)
Elizabeth A. Temple (R)
Donald M. (Don) Brown (R)
Michael Whatley (R)
Margot Dupre (R)
Thomas Johnson (R)
U.S. House Of Representatives
District 11
Jamie Ager (D)
Paul Maddox (D)
Richard Hudspeth (D)
Chuck Edwards (R)
Adam R. Smith (R)
N.C. Supreme Court Associate
Justice Seat
Anita Earls (D)
Sarah Stevens (R)
N.C. Court Of Appeals
Judge Seat
John S. Arrowood (D)
Matt Smith (R)
Michael C. Byrne (R)
Tobias (Toby) Hampson (D)
George Cooper Bell (R)
James Weldon Whalen (D)
Christine Marie Walczyk
(D)
Craig Collins (R)
N.C. State Senate
Tom Downing (D)
Kevin Corbin (R)
N.C. House Of Representatives
Caleb Brown (D)
Karl Gillespie (R)
N.C. District Court
Judge
Donna Forga (R)
Justin B. Greene (D)
William (Bill) Jones (D)
District Attorney
Ashley Hornsby Welch (R)