Elections promise a hefty ballot for Chatham

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While Chatham County residents faced fairly simple ballot choices in the 2019 election, 2020’s will be anything but.

Along with voting for U.S. President, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, registered Chatham County voters will also make choices for state Governor, all the major state offices and representatives in the N.C. General Assembly as well as Chatham County Boards of Commissioners and Education representatives.

Candidate filing for the March 2020 primary began at noon Monday, and multiple people have already submitted their names, including state Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Dist. 54), Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Dist. 24) and school board member David Hamm. Filing ends at noon on Dec. 20. Early voting starts Feb. 12 and ends Feb. 29 while the primary date is March 3. The general election day for 2020 is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Here’s a rundown of the federal, state and county-level races that will be on 2020 ballots:

Federal Elections

The most notable race will be that for President of the United States. Republican Donald Trump, despite impeachment woes, will seek re-election and, as of now, there are more than a dozen candidates lining up on the Democratic side. Iowa kicks off the Democratic presidential primaries on February 3.

On a more local note, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is up for re-election in 2020, but is already facing some primary challengers. Five individuals, including former Senate candidate Cal Cunningham, have declared their intention to seek the Democratic nomination.

Chatham’s U.S. House representative in all likelihood is going to change. A redraw of the state Congressional maps moved Chatham out of the 6th District and split the county between the 4th District, covering the majority of the county, and the 13th District in the far west. Democrat David Price currently represents the 4th District, while Republican Ted Budd holds the 13th District seat — and both men have indicated they intend to seek re-election, according to media reports.

Walker said in a campaign press release Monday that he would take his time to make a decision.

“From the pulpit to the halls of Congress, I have always sought the counsel of others as I strive towards service,” he said. “This is no different. Filing will remain open until December 20 and I feel no pressure to rush a decision.”

State Elections

Another big race on 2020 ballots is that for Governor of North Carolina. Democrat Roy Cooper currently holds the office, but current Lt. Gov. Dan Forrest, a Republican, has announced his intention to seek the seat.

A smattering of other state races are also up for election, including Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Every seat in the N.C. General Assembly is also open in 2020, including those held by Foushee and Reives. Reives officialy filed Monday to seek his seat for a fourth full term, followed by Foushee on Tuesday morning.

County Elections

2020 brings elections for the Chatham County Boards of Commissioners and Education.

Every registered voter in Chatham County votes for commissioner candidates, which represent five different districts across the county. Seats held by Democrats Karen Howard (District 1, northeast Chatham) and Mike Dasher (District 2, Moncure and Pittsboro) will be open. The terms of school board members Melissa Hlavac (District 1) and David Hamm (District 2) will also expire in 2020.

County residents will also have two referenda on their primary ballots — one for a quarter-cent local option sales tax and another for unfortified wine and malt beverage sales in unincorporated areas of the county. Additionally, Register of Deeds Lunday Riggsbee’s term will come to an end.

In addition to Hamm, Riggsbee filed for re-election on Monday.

Reporter Zachary Horner can be reached at zhorner@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @ZachHornerCNR.