Update: 2018 Buncombe County primary election results

Buncombe County Health and Human Services. Photo: @buncombecounty

Editors note: This primary election guide was originally published in April. On May 9th, AVLtoday updated to reflect the winners of the 2018 Buncombe County primary elections.

Results from Tuesday’s Buncombe County primary election are in.

Candidates that will advance to November’s general election:

Note: Priorities listed come from each candidate’s stated platform on his or her website.

US House of Representatives District 10 – Republican

Patrick McHenry: (Incumbent) – Currently serving seventh term in Congress; Chief Deputy Whip; priorities include drilling + conservation, and alternative sources for energy, establishment of Association Healthcare Plans, rebuilding the economy of WNC. (60.85% of the vote)

US House of Representatives District 11 – Democrat + Republican

Philip G. Price (D) – Nebo resident + small business owner; priorities include healthcare, environment, women’s issues, immigration, promotion of arts + culture, criminal justice reform. (36.32% of the vote)
Mark Meadows (R): incumbent – in his third term in Congress after 27 years as a small business owner; priorities include ending dependence on foreign energy, modernization of the military, state- and locally-run education, removing regulations on businesses. (86.24% of the vote)

NC House of Representatives District 115 – Republican

Amy Evans – Fiscal + social conservative, supports women in business, closed borders, and the 2nd amendment in its entirety (51.95% of the vote)

District Attorney District 40 – Democrat

Todd M. Williams (incumbent) – D.A. since 2015; experience as a Capital and Public Defender and in juvenile and drug treatment court. (53.26% of the vote)

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 2 – Democrat

Amanda Edwards – executive director of the A-B Tech Foundation with nonprofit experience; priorities include curbing over-development, funding emergency services, addressing the opioid epidemic, expanding diversity and equity in services and workforce + more. (39.93% of the vote)

Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 3 – Democrat

Donna Ensley - Nonprofit experience, former chief development officer of MANNA Food Bank; priorities include living wage, environmental protections, educational opportunity, infrastructure improvements + more. (61.37% of the vote)

Buncombe County Sheriff (Countywide) – Democrat

Quentin Miller – Current sergeant in the Asheville Police Department; in favor of de-escalation training + deputy support. (53.93% of the vote)

Originally published article –

Do you know who you’re voting for on Tuesday, May 8? Are you planning to vote? Did you know there was an election?

May 8 is primary election day for Buncombe County, and the deadline to register to vote in the primary race is next Friday (April 13). The general election voting day is November 6. There will be 80 polling places throughout the county (including spots in Black Mountain, Fairview, Alexander + Barnardsville) in this election. And remember, if you want a say on who is on that ballot in November, you have to show up on April 13th.

And, a lot is at stake in local elections. But while turnout for the 2016 presidential election in North Carolina was 68.98%, estimates of voter turnout in municipal elections put it at between 10–15%.

That means that 85–90% of you didn’t vote for local officials, who will make decisions in the county that could directly affect you. And turnout for primary elections is even lower (about 4% in last year’s county election). You can’t complain if you didn’t vote. So hop to it, will ya?

Need to register to vote? Print, complete + sign this form and either mail it to “Election Services, PO Box 7468, Asheville, NC 28802-7468” or drop it off at the Board of Elections (77 McDowell St.), a public library, DMV, or government social services office.

If you miss the deadline to register, you can still register when you vote if you participate in early voting. Early voting for the 2018 primaries in Buncombe County begins April 19. If you choose this option, you’ll have to bring some required identifying materials with you–more information here. (To vote in a primary, you don’t need to be registered with a party affiliation, but if you are, you must vote with that party).

Already registered, but want to find out which precinct you’re in + see your sample ballot? Click here. And finally, don’t know if you’re registered at all? Check it here.

Now, for the nitty gritty, including who + what you can vote for come May.