The 2026 primary elections in Orange County will see competitive races for sheriff, register of deeds, county commission, and school board, with several other county offices featuring uncontested Democratic primaries and no Republican challengers.
The sheriff’s race is drawing particular attention this cycle, as longtime Sheriff Charles Blackwood faces a serious challenge from David LaBarre, who boasts extensive experience from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. The race also comes at a pivotal moment for immigration enforcement: 2026 marks the first election where candidates will run under new state mandates requiring sheriffs to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Here’s a look at the candidates.
Orange County Sheriff Democratic Primary
Incumbent Sheriff Charles Blackwood is running for a fourth term, having first been elected in 2014. During his tenure as sheriff, he has pushed for bail and bond reform, school safety, and new approaches to address substance abuse and mental health issues. His efforts combating the opioid epidemic earned him a Dogwood Award in 2020 from then-Attorney General Josh Stein. Before he was sheriff, Blackwood worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years, starting as a patrol officer in 1980.
Blackwood identifies mental health as his top priority for a future term. He says improving mental health services for both officers and those in detention is crucial. He also hopes to reform how law enforcement approaches missing children cases. Blackwood opposed House Bill 10 on constitutional grounds and has criticized ICE for asking local jails to detain people without reimbursement.
Blackwood faces a challenge from David LaBarre, who has worked in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office since 2003. LaBarre worked as a patrol sergeant, narcotics investigator, and intelligence unit sergeant and on the FBI Safe Streets Taskforce before moving into his current role as director of planning and development. LaBarre’s platform includes modern alternatives to arrests (“non-violent calls should be met with a non-law enforcement response,” his site reads) and establishing a third-party independent oversight committee to build trust with community members. According to his campaign website, he became a vocal opponent of ICE detainers while at the Durham County Sheriff’s Office.
District Attorney District 18 (No primary)
Incumbent District Attorney Jeff Nieman, a Democrat, is running unopposed for a second term in the district that encompasses Orange and Chatham counties. An Orange County native who has worked in the district attorney’s office since 2006, Nieman’s priorities include expanding diversion programs, addressing systemic racism and implicit bias, and seeking justice through rehabilitation and treatment rather than incarceration.
Orange County Register of Deeds Democratic Primary
Currently an assistant in the Orange County Register of Deeds office, Amy McLamb is running for the position long held by Mark Chilton, who will retire next year. Also running is Penny Rich, a former Chapel Hill Town Council member and former Orange County commissioner who previously challenged Chilton in 2022, naming customer service improvements and website modernization as her priorities.
Orange County Clerk of Superior Court (No primary)
Incumbent County Clerk Mark Kleinschmidt, a Democrat, is running uncontested for a third term. A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, Kleinschmidt served two terms on the Chapel Hill Town Council and three terms as mayor of Chapel Hill before being elected clerk in 2018.
Early voting ahead of the primary begins February 12, and primary Election Day is March 3. Read about Orange County’s county commission and school board races here.
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