Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN) - With the 2026 primary election beginning tomorrow, March 3rd, 2026, voters across Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, and surrounding counties will head to the polls to make key decisions in several local races.
Through Wise News Network's Free Platform interviews, candidates had the opportunity to share their priorities, experience, and vision directly with the community.
Here is a brief look at the eight candidates we featured:
NC House District 110 Incumbent Kelly Hastings interviewing in WNN Studios - January 12th, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
Up for re-election, Kelly Hastings says the top concerns he hears from the people are transportation, taxes, jobs, and education. In his interview, Hastings mentioned that teachers used to face furloughs and higher taxes. He states that teachers currently receive regular pay raises while taxes have been declining, indicating that things have changed.
Hastings said he hopes to continue strengthening economic development efforts, noting that North Carolina was recently ranked the top state in the country for economic development under current leadership. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
NC House District 110 Candidate Caroline Eason interviewing at WNN Studios - January 12th, 2026
Mason Beam (WNN)
After being recruited by the NC House Caucus, Caroline Eason decided it was her opportunity to share her passion for policy along with her healthcare background. Eason highlights that she would like to modernize policies to better reflect the interests of the people, such as lowering property taxes by shifting towards a sales tax model.
Drawing from her experience as a pharmacist, she aims to lower insurance premiums to create access for all residents. As she shared, "Getting into policy and politics is a way that I can take these lived experiences from watching the elderly not be able to afford their medications... and being a real healthcare advocate." For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Running for the Cleveland County School Board, Brandon Bridges discusses the need to improve food quality and provide basic supplies for students in his campaign. His main concern is improving the school board's transparency and its interactions with the media. Stating, "everybody could do a better job with transparency."
When it comes to decision-making, Bridges said that he plans to take an unbiased approach, keeping in mind that board decisions impact the entire community, not just a select few. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
A Republican candidate for Gaston County Commissioner, Cathy Cloninger, emphasizes her love for Gaston County and her commitment to being responsible with taxpayers' dollars. She also discusses Gaston County's own police force, emphasizing the importance of safety and services. She explains the role of a county commissioner is to address diverse community needs and connect citizens with those resources. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Seeking re-election, Aaron Bridges emphasized his experience on the board and his commitment to making decisions that benefit both students and teachers. He acknowledges the role of charter schools in diversifying educational options but notes that tax dollars follow students to these schools, affecting traditional public education funding. Bridges supports parental choice in education while also strongly advocating for traditional public education. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Melissa Elmore, a Republican candidate for Lincoln County Register of Deeds, shared that her desire is to be a "working register", continuing to assist the public directly. Elmore hopes to expand services to benefit citizens without additional cost, such as hunting and fishing licenses. She also stated that one of her goals is to enact stiffer penalties for deed fraud. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Running for Lincoln County Clerk of Courts, Stacey Crouse emphasized that the transition to eCourts centralizes information and requires all filings and judicial signatures to be electronic. Emphasizing that the public can access information online. To address gaps within the clerk's office, she highlighted the need for cross-training and for creating a more comfortable space for individuals handling sensitive matters, such as estates. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Ronnie Grigg, a Republican candidate for the Cleveland County School Board, focused on school safety, academic performance, and fiscal oversight. In his Free Platform interview, he stressed the importance of ensuring fair treatment for all students. With population growth, he expressed concerns about the lack of space in existing schools. Grigg advocated reopening closed school buildings to prevent overcrowding. He also advocates a strong cell phone policy that requires students to interact face-to-face rather than use their phones. For more information on this candidate, please review the following article listed here.
Primary elections play a crucial role in determining which candidates will advance to the general election ballot. Voting begins tomorrow, allowing residents to make their voices heard on the local issues that impact their schools, courts, county leadership, and representation.
Wise News Network encourages voters to review each candidate's Free Platform interview and head to the polls prepared. To view all candidate interviews, please visit our curated YouTube Playlist here.
According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, voting will take place tomorrow between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm. If you are unsure of your nearest polling location, you can find it here.
