Time to vote: Polls now open
The primary election is TODAY (Tuesday, March 3)
Good morning! Today is Tuesday, March 3, 2026. You’re reading The Charlotte Ledger.
Need to subscribe — or upgrade your Ledger e-newsletter subscription? Details here.
Today’s Charlotte Ledger is sponsored by Carnegie Private Wealth. At Carnegie Private Wealth, we bring clarity to complexity. Through thoughtful planning and personal attention, we help you pursue opportunities and reclaim time for what matters most.
🇺🇸 Primary election: Polls are open today until 7:30 p.m.
The ballot might be slender, but there are some key political races that voters will decide today.
Today’s results will set the stage for this fall’s races for U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats. And there are a variety of contested primary races for the General Assembly, judgeships, county commissioner and sheriff.
The winners of some of today’s local races face no opposition in November, meaning they will be all but assured of taking office.
Some of the more intriguing match-ups worth watching:
Party loyalty: Will N.C. Reps. Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham, both Democrats, hold off Democratic challengers who say they have enabled Republicans to override some of Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes? The Democratic Party has supported the challengers in the University City-area districts.
Mecklenburg commissioners: Ten candidates are running for three seats on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. Will voters stick with the three incumbents — Arthur Griffin Jr., Leigh Altman and Yvette Townsend-Ingram — or usher in new leadership?
Longtime incumbent: Can 90-year-old Vilma Leake, who was first elected to public office in 1997, hold off a challenge from Monifa “Mo” Drayton in a westside commissioners seat? The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg endorsed Drayton.
New sheriff in town? Outspoken sheriff Garry McFadden, who has been criticized and sued by former employees — as well as blamed for jail deaths and criticized by Republicans for his unenthusiastic help with immigration enforcement — is running for a third term against three Democratic challengers.
One of N.C.’s most powerful politicians in tough fight: One of the most closely watched contests tonight will be 100 miles northeast of Charlotte, where Republican Senate leader Phil Berger is in a tight and expensive race against challenger Sam Page, the longtime sheriff of Rockingham County. Republicans are expected to spend more than $10M on Berger’s campaign, The Assembly reported Monday — an unprecedented sum on a single state legislative district, one political scientist said.
—
➡️ If you want to brush up quickly, check out The Election Hub.
It’s a nonprofit The Ledger is partnering with to provide neutral and easy-to-access information on candidates and voting. It’s 100% ad-free, free to use and hosted on a pleasant website. It has information on every candidate on the ballot in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus and Gaston counties. The Ledger supports The Election Hub because of our shared missions of providing responsible and trustworthy local information.
◼️ Hours: Polls at each precinct are open today (Tuesday, March 3) from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
◼️ Who can vote? Registered Democrats take the Democratic ballot. Registered Republicans take the Republican ballot. Unaffiliated voters can choose either ballot.
—
➡️ Check your registration, voting location and sample ballot
➡️ For more information, check out the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections site at meckboe.org.
Look for clear, comprehensive news and analysis of today’s vote in Wednesday morning’s Charlotte Ledger. —Tony Mecia
Need to sign up for this e-newsletter? We offer a free version, as well as paid memberships for full access to all six of our local newsletters:
The Charlotte Ledger is a locally owned media company that delivers smart and essential news. We strive for fairness and accuracy and will correct all known errors. The content reflects the independent editorial judgment of The Charlotte Ledger. Any advertising, paid marketing or sponsored content will be clearly labeled.
◼️ About The Ledger • Our Team • Website
◼️ Newsletters • Podcast • Newcomer Guide • A Better You email series
◼️ Subscribe • Sponsor • Events Board • Merch Store • Manage Your Account
◼️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn