News

Filing sets up GOP primaries for 11th District, state House, commissioner seats

By Bill Moss, Published: December 9, 2025

Two state House members, a Henderson County commissioner and U.S. Rep Chuck Edwards drew primary opponents, the current mayor pro tem and a former council member filed for the open job of Hendersonville mayor, two challengers signed up to run for school board and all four county constitutional officers filed for re-election during the first six days of filing for the 2026 elections.

In Hendersonville elections, Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley made it official, formalizing a run she announced in July. So far, she will face Jerry Smith, the former council member who announced his candidacy in August.

Republican primaries are ensured for two seats on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. Steve Wyatt, the former county manager, and Mills River homebuilder Rudd Orr filed for the open District 3 seat while Tom Appleby of Bat Cave signed up to challenge incumbent Rebecca McCall. Commissioner Michael Edney, who filed to run for a seventh term, was the only candidate to sign up so far in District 1.

Both incumbents in Henderson County’s state House delegation also have drawn Republican primary opponents. Dr. Christopher Lamar Wilson filed for the state House seat currently held by Jennifer Balkcom; a Democrat, Lynne Russo of Hendersonville, has also filed for the District 117 seat. Former state Rep. Mike Hager of Rutherfordton signed up to challenge Jake Johnson, who has announced his campaign for a fifth term in the House.

On Dec. 3, Sheriff Lowell Griffin filed to run for a third term and Andrew Murray signed up to run for a second term as district attorney, ensuring a slate of four Republican incumbents on the ballot for Henderson County’s constitutional offices. Clerk of Superior Court J. Tyler Ray and Register of Deeds Lee King filed for re-election on opening day of qualifying. Appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper in May 2021, Murray won election in 2022 as chief prosecutor for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties. 

A native and lifelong resident of Henderson County who started his public service as a teen-age volunteer firefighter at Edneyville Fire Department, Griffin, 59, defeated incumbent sheriff Charlie McDonald in the Republican primary in 2018, then cruised to re-election without opposition in 2022.

Besides the U.S. Senate race expected to pit the Trump-endorsed former RNC chair Michael Whatley against former Gov. Roy Cooper, the ballot statewide will contain elections for a Supreme Court seat and three Court of Appeals seats. Filing closes at noon Friday, Dec. 19. The primary is  March 3. The general election is Nov. 3. Here’s a look at who’s filed or announced as of Monday:

11th Congressional District

• Chuck Edwards, R (i); Adam R. Smith of Fairview, R; Jamie Ager, D; Paul Maddox, D; Richard Hudspeth, D.

Board of Commissioners

• District 1: Michael Edney, R (i).
• District 3: Steve Wyatt, R; Rudd Orr, R.
• District 4: Rebecca McCall, R (i), Tom Appleby, R.

School Board

• Reid J. Barwick, D; Randy Beaver, R. Incumbents are Blair Craven (unaffiliated), appointed in 2024 to fill the seat made vacant by Jay Egolf’s election to Board of Commissioners; Shelia Dale, R; and Alyssa Norman, R.

Constitutional offices

• Sheriff: Lowell Griffin, R (i)
• Clerk of Superior Court: J. Tyler Ray, R (i)
• Register of Deeds: Lee King, R (i)
• District Attorney (Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties): Andrew Murray, R (i)
• District Court Judge (seat 5): Abe Hudson, R (i)

N.C. Legislature

• House District 113: Jake Johnson, R (i), Mike Hager, R.
• House District 117: Jennifer Balkcom, R (i), Christopher Lamar Wilson, R; Lynne Russo, D.
• Senate District 48: Tim Moffitt, R (i)

Municipal elections (nonpartisan, on Nov. 3 ballot)

• Hendersonville: mayor, Jennifer Hensley, Jerry Smith. City council (at large): Gina Baxter, Melinda Lowrance.
• Flat Rock: District 1, John Gerni; District 2, Roger Bass; District 3, Barbara Jeter, filed.
• Fletcher: mayor, Preston Blakely (i); District 1, Amber McKinney, John Brandon Olsen; District 4, Trevor Lance (i).
• Laurel Park (at large): two seats, Debra Bridges (i), Mark Morse (i).
• Mills River: District 1, Sandra Goode (i); District 2, James  Cantrell (i); District 3, Katrina McGuire, Jerry Frady.