Politics

Republican Party plans to name replacement for Bridges on Aug. 28

By Amy B. McCraw, Published: August 10, 2025

Action by the state Legislature to switch Henderson County School Board elections from nonpartisan to partisan gives the county Republican Party the authority to name a replacement for board member Robert Bridges, who died on Aug. 4.

Bridges was re-elected to the school board in 2024 after he and three others emerged from a Republican primary in March 2024 and went on to defeat four Democrats in the Nov. 5 general election. State law requires Bridges's seat to be filled within 30 days of his death. The change by the Legislature also means that Republican Party's executive committee will name the person to fill the seat, party chair Greg Beam said.
Beam said he intends for the committee to meet on Thursday, Aug. 28, to determine who will fill the school board seat. People interested in serving on the school board will have an opportunity to present themselves to the committee and will be interviewed by the committee, Beam said. Anyone interested in filling the seat may contact the Henderson County Republican Party at hello@hcgopnc.org.