ROCKINGHAM — Filing opened this week for the 2026 election, with several candidates running for county and judicial offices.
According to Richmond County Board of Elections records, Linda Ross, Melissa Schooner, Terry Lewis and Laverne Schultz have filed for a county commissioner seat. Incumbent Jason Gainey filed for reelection Wednesday. Incumbents Dr. Rick Watkins, Robin Roberts and Justin Dawkins are also up for reelection but have not filed as of Friday, Dec. 5.
All four incumbents on the Richmond County Board of Education: Bobbie Sue Ormsby, Cory Satterfield, Scotty Baldwin and Daryl Mason — have filed for reelection and face no challengers.
The sheriff’s race currently features Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge and challenger Tahid “Ty” Rucker, a former deputy.
Gulledge was hired as a detention officer with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in June 1999. He was promoted to deputy in the patrol division in June 2000, then to patrol sergeant in 2005 and lieutenant the same year, serving as a night shift supervisor. He later served as chief deputy sheriff, managing day-to-day operations and the budget for the sheriff’s office and detention center for 10 years. Gulledge was named sheriff of Richmond County in August 2021 following the death of Sheriff James E. Clemmons Jr. He was elected sheriff in November 2022.
Rucker was hired as a jailer at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in August 2004 and promoted to deputy in June 2008, serving warrants and civil papers. In January 2010, he became a detective in the Vice Narcotics Unit. He transitioned to assistant jail administrator in September 2021, served as school resource officer in February 2024, and transitioned to Scotland County in September 2024. Rucker was promoted to jail administrator later that month.
Clerk of Superior Court Vickie Daniel is currently unchallenged, as are District Court Judges Chris Rhue and Chevonne Wallace, state Sen. Dave Craven and state Rep. Ben Moss.
Jamie Adams has filed to retain her seat as District Attorney for District 21 and faces challengers Herman Little and Todd G. Scott. Adams was appointed in 2024 to fill the remainder of the term vacated by Reece Saunders. She previously served as chief assistant district attorney for District 21 and as an assistant district attorney in Districts 25 and 26. Little has served as a public defender, assistant district attorney, and judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve and is currently assistant attorney general in the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Candidate filing continues through Friday, Dec. 19, at noon. The school board election and primary are set for March 3, 2026.