Early numbers from Wake County’s March 3 primary put former school board member Christine Kushner and tech consultant Mona Singh out in front in the crowded Democratic at-large race, with both women pulling ahead in the first wave of county tallies. The pair now look well positioned to move on to November’s general election for one of two newly created at-large seats, which expand the county commission from seven to nine members. Voters from every corner of the county weighed in on the at-large contest as results trickled in from precincts throughout the night.
According to The News & Observer, early returns showed Kushner and Singh leading the pack of seven Democrats on the ballot, even as results continued to arrive from all 216 precincts. Election officials said they expected a clearer picture later in the evening as more precincts finished reporting their totals.
Who Was On The Democratic Ballot
The Wake County Democratic Party listed seven candidates vying for the two at-large nominations: Mona Singh, Steve Rao, Christine Kushner, Marguerite Creel, Jonathan Lambert-Melton, Kimberly McGhee and Robert Mitchener Jr. The two winners will join the district-based commissioners, with staggered terms set up so that the top vote-getter serves a four-year term while the runner-up serves a two-year term.
Republicans Advance To November
On the Republican side, only two candidates filed for the at-large race: Gary Dale Hartong and Kyle Stogoski. That means they advance automatically to the November ballot without a primary contest, IndyWeek reports. The result is a four-way general election for two seats, a setup that election watchers say increases the likelihood that Democrats will hold the new posts in November.
Why The Map Changed
The at-large positions were created after Republican state Rep. Erin Paré backed a change to Wake County’s election system that reshaped how commissioners are chosen. The new structure adds countywide at-large seats and limits district races to voters who live in those districts, a compromise that drew significant local attention during the legislative session. WRAL reported that supporters argued the overhaul would boost localized representation for suburban and rural parts of the county.
Incumbents Without Primary Opposition
A handful of sitting commissioners did not face any primary challengers. Don Mial (District 1), Cheryl Stallings (District 3) and Vickie Adamson (District 7) all filed for re-election unopposed and therefore do not appear on the March primary ballot, IndyWeek reports. Contested races will be decided in the November general election.
What Happens Next
Officials said they expected more complete totals and final unofficial results by around midnight on March 3, with formal certification to follow in the days and weeks after, according to The News & Observer. If Kushner and Singh hang on to their early leads, they will face Republicans Gary Dale Hartong and Kyle Stogoski in the Nov. 3 general election.
