Politics

Orr defeats Wyatt, McCall rolls, House incumbents cruise, road bonds win big

Henderson County Board of Commissioners candidate Steve Wyatt (standing in the center) speaks with supporters Tuesday night, including former county commissioner Tommy Thompson, after learning he would not win a seat on the board.

By AMY B. MCRAW and BILL MOSS, Published: March 4, 2026

Political newcomer Rudd Orr defeated former Henderson County Manager Steve Wyatt for a county commission seat, state Reps. Jennifer Capps Balkcom and Jake Johnson turned back primary challengers and Hendersonville residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $10 million road bond issue on Tuesday.

Orr won the District 3 seat being vacated by three-term incumbent and current chair Bill Lapsley with 56 percent of the vote.

Orr, who faces no opposition in the Nov. 3 general election, on Tuesday night said he was excited about his win.
“I think people are ready for a change and some fresh ideas, new energy and ideas,” Orr said shortly after learning he likely earned a seat on the board. “I think that is how we were able to pull it off. I care about this place, and I think that is what stood out.”
Orr  pledged to listen to the concerns of Henderson County residents once he takes office. His priorities as a commissioner will include preserving farmland in the county, limiting development and providing needed infrastructure.
“I’m ready to get started,” he said.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Orr thanked his family, friends and supporters for their work during his campaign.

"This campaign was never about one person," he said. "It was about a community that loves this county, cares about its future, and believes it is worth fighting for. I want to thank my family, my friends, my volunteers, and every single person who knocked on doors, stood at polling locations in the cold, held signs, shared posts, prayed for us, or cast a vote"

“Your encouragement, hard work and belief in this campaign mean more to me than I can ever fully put into words,” he said. “My family has deep roots in this community, and it is the greatest honor of my life to have the opportunity to serve the people of this county. I do not take this responsibility lightly,” he said, signing off as Rudd W. Orr, Future Henderson County Commissioner.

Wyatt wished Orr success after learning he would not win the primary.
“It looks like people have gone in a different direction,” he said.
Wyatt said he had no regrets in his campaign.
“I didn’t make promises, especially when I knew it wasn’t reality,” he said.
With 67.58 percent of the vote, Commissioner Rebecca McCall easily earned a likely third term on the Board of Commissioners, defeating challenger Tom Appleby of Bat Cave in the race for the District 4 seat. McCall said her third term will be her last on the board.
“It will be good to hand it over to somebody else after that,” she said Tuesday night.
Before she leaves office, McCall said she hopes to complete work on the county’s farmland preservation program and finish capital projects including enclosing East Henderson High School and the county’s detention center and jail project. McCall said she also hopes the county and the city of Hendersonville can come to an agreement on water and sewer issues.
She thanked the county residents who voted for her in the primary.
“It’s a nice feeling the citizens are telling me they have confidence in me,” she said.
Republican primary winners in the District 3 and District 4 Board of Commissioners seats will be the presumptive winners of those seats; no Democrat filed to run for either seat.

City residents voted in favor of the transportation improvement bonds by 67 to 33 percent in a strong endorsement of the city's pledge to pave 25 miles of city streets, add sidewalks and improve handicap access and make safety improvements.

“I’m excited to see that. It really gives us a chance to make improvements to these roads," Hendersonville's mayor pro tem, Jennifer Hensley, said Tuesday night, adding that one of her campaign slogans was “fix the darn streets."

Balkcom vanquished challenger Christopher Lamar Wilson with 76 percent of the vote, while Johnson, of Polk County, defeated Mike Hager, a former state House majority leader from Rutherford County, 61-39. 

Johnson, 31, enjoyed the support of House Speaker Destin Hall, State Auditor Dave Boliek and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley and the chairs of the boards of commissioners of Henderson, Rutherford, Polk and McDowell counties. A real estate agent, he lives in Columbus.

"I am running for reelection to the North Carolina Legislature because we have had success delivering on our campaign commitments of protecting the sanctity of life, supporting the second amendments and lowering the income tax," he said in the Lightning's candidate survey. However, new challenges have emerged. Due to Biden inflation, the cost of living is through the roof, and we have to take action to protect our citizens and address this issue."

Asked why she is seeking a third term, Balkcom touted her record and said she wanted to continue to serve the county.

"I’ve delivered conservative, common-sense results in public safety, child protection, and women’s sports," she said. "I’ve secured over $37 million in state funding for long-term needs, growth, safety and economic stability, including $14.75 million for expanded sewer and water infrastructure, $14 million for flood mitigation, $2.34 million for BRCC, $2 million for agricultural services and $1 million for Emergency Medical Services. I also acquired additional funding for volunteer fire departments, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Fletcher Police Department, supporting first responders, law enforcement, families, small communities and public service providers."

Serving up what is likely to be one of two closely watched congressional contests in the state, incumbent Chuck Edwards trounced challenger Adam R. Smith to take the Republican nomination while Buncombe County cattle farmer Jamie Ager cruised past Richard Hudspeth, a physician and retired CEO of Blue Ridge Health, and three others, winning with 65 percent of the vote. The grandson of former U.S. Rep. Jamie Clarke, Ager has drawn support from national Democrats who see the 11th Congressional District as a potentially winnable seat in November.