Follow the trail to the issues, conversations and information connecting the region.

Dear reader,

The winter Olympics over the last few weeks have brought unbelievable footage into our homes from sports we didn’t even know existed: skeleton, curling and graceful ice dancing. I can’t stop watching this Alysa Liu performance!

Even the Olympics crept into the political sphere this week. The men’s hockey team won gold. President Trump congratulated the team and invited them to the White House. The women’s hockey team also took gold, and Trump joked that he would be impeached if he didn't invite the women to the White House as well. The women's team declined the President’s invitation because of scheduling conflicts. 

The men’s team also made an appearance at Tuesday night’s State of the Union where Trump announced that team goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will receive the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, NPR reported.

And yes, there is still a North Carolina connection - one of the Olympic gold winners is Carolina Hurricanes player Jaccob Slavin. (Two other Canes players also hit the ice for Finland and Canada.)   

Slavin spoke about his trip to the White House at a press conference on Wednesday. 

“Regardless who the president is, not everyone gets that opportunity and privilege to be able to go and take part of so much history that has taken place at the White House and Washington, D.C.,” he said according to the News & Observer.

Here in WNC, the most ice I've seen is in the creek!

Heading out of town this weekend? Don’t forget to cast your ballot before you go because early voting ends Saturday before the March 3 primary election.

Three important things to remember if you haven’t voted yet:

1. If you are unaffiliated, you can vote in the Republican or Democratic primary. Check your sample ballot to see what races and candidates you want to vote for. Some races might only be on the ballot for one party. 

2. During early voting, you can register to vote. Here’s the information about same-day voter registration.  

3. Bring your photo ID to vote. Here are the requirements. 

More on the primaries below, including a county-by-county round up of what you need to know. 

Elections Underway

Across Western North Carolina, primary races for the N.C. House of Representatives are on the ballot. While all are important, some are considered more competitive because of the mix of Republicans and Democrats in each district.  

The Assembly lists both the 118th and 119th districts as competitive primaries to watch, but the 119th may be a more heated race because there are three candidates vying for the Republican spot.

NC-118 includes Haywood and Madison Counties, but both candidates hail from Haywood County. Incumbent Mark Pless has worked on Hurricane Helene recovery and faced pushback from EMS workers over a 2025 proposed bill. 

He faces longtime Haywood County school board member Jimmy Rogers. 

NC-119 includes Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties. Incumbent Clampitt, who has served four terms in the seat, previously defeated Democrat Joe Sam Queen five times in one of the state’s longest running match-ups.

In 2022, the seat was redistricted to remove Haywood County and include Transylvania County. As a Haywood County resident, Queen was no longer eligible for the seat. Clampitt won against Democratic challengers in 2022 and 2024 to hold onto the seat.

Clampitt, who was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2025,  faces two challengers in the primary.  

I reached out to all five candidates in these two races to find out their priorities and where they might be willing to compromise. (Edited for brevity and clarity).

Questions for the 118th district candidates

Mark Pless 

Incumbent Republican Candidate for NC-118 

What is the biggest issue currently facing Western North Carolina? 

That's two-fold. Helene is obviously the largest but that is something that we are dealing with pretty well at the moment so I'm not sure if I would say that is the most pressing because we are working on that. I think the most pressing is our housing situation because people don't have a place that they can afford to live anymore but I'm not sure the government has a role in that.  

What is the first bipartisan issue that you want to work on across the aisle if you are elected?

This is going to sound awkward, being in the majority party we typically do not have to go to anyone else to get things accomplished. However, my door is always open.  

I try to make sure that the Democrats they know that they can come and talk to me, if it's a good idea and it's something we need to do for North Carolina then we will do it. 

Find more at his campaign website: https://www.markpless.us 

Jimmy Rogers 

Republican Candidate for NC-118  

What is the biggest issue currently facing Western North Carolina? 

Long term recovery from Hurricane Helene. To help regain economic stability. Ways to move to permanent solutions.  

What is the first bipartisan issue that you want to work on across the aisle if you are elected?

Continue efforts to expedite and an acquire funding for infrastructure, and citizens living in the communities and counties effected from Hurricane Helene. Work with local, state, and federal agencies. Improve healthcare access. Work with law enforcement agencies to combat the opioid/drug crisis.  

Find more at his campaign website:  http://rogers4nc118.com/ 

Questions with the candidates for the 119 district

Anna Ferguson  

Republican Candidate for NC-119 

What is the biggest issue currently facing Western North Carolina? 

Economic and Infrastructure Development

What is the first bipartisan issue that you want to work on across the aisle if you are elected?

I can't pick just one! Public school and health care funding are crucial components to establishing an overdue state budget.

Find more at her campaign website: https://www.voteannaferguson.com/

Mike Yow

Republican Candidate for NC-119  

What is the biggest issue currently facing Western North Carolina? 

EVERY Western North Carolinian deserves the right to healthy food, clean water, sustainable housing, and well-maintained public safety, health, and infrastructure. I want to start that right here in the 119. I watched our leaders at both state and federal levels intentionally cut funding (purely out of pure spite for the working class) that provided North Carolinians with enough food (and other needed resources) to feel nutritionally secure and financially functional. This spiteful and immature behavior within our legislative bodies must be voted out, and people who actually care for their neighbors and surrounding communities voted in.

What is the first bipartisan issue that you want to work on across the aisle if you are elected?

My platform has stayed consistent on making sure that everyone in the 119 and North Carolina as a whole should be given the right to basic needs – food, water, shelter, and safety. North Carolina implemented a pilot program in 2024 to assist in providing basic needs for daily living to those under financial hardship. This included dependable access to food, functional transportation, comprehensive healthcare, and housing improvement resources. 

The Trump administration stripped this funding at the federal level, followed by the General Assembly completely removing funding at the state level. WNC families depended on this program as they worked to further stabilize their living situation, leading to a higher quality of life. I will make it a priority to secure this funding again through bipartisan legislation. North Carolinians deserve to live with a feeling of safety and security, without the anxiety behind where their next meal will come from or how they will find work without reliable transportation. I will be shouting support for this in the House Chambers starting on day one and won’t stop making noise until our state’s residents are cared for.

Yow does not have a campaign website.

Mike Clampitt

Incumbent Republican Candidate for NC-119 

Clampitt did not respond to our questions.

Find more on his campaign website: https://www.mike4nc.com

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My open tabs

• Noquisi Mound (formerly known as Nikwasi) will be transferred from the Noquisi Initiative (a nonprofit representing the Town of Franklin, Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Eastern Band of Cherokee) to the Eastern Band of Cherokee today at 1 p.m. I'll be attending the transfer so look out for more about the mound next week!

• ‘Something needs to change’: Report details isolation at NC juvenile detention centers (NC Health News)

• In Asheville’s Elections, a View into How North Carolina Is Constraining Local Officials (Bolts)

• Swain Sheriff’s office launches mobile app to boost transparency, public safety (Smoky Mountain Times) 

• ‘A love of mountains:’ A granddaughter’s gift from her grandfather (Smokies Life) 

• Amid uncertainty, Swain commissioners accept revised FRL amendments (Smoky Mountain News) 

• Residents criticize county's $235k legal fees on election case (Watauga Democrat)

Sheriff Updates

• The Cherokee County GOP chose Chris Wood to serve as sheriff after Dustin Smith’s retirement earlier this month. Smith was asked to leave office by the local district attorney.  He was sworn in on Monday morning according to the Cherokee Scout.  Wood is running in the Republican primary against Sam May.

• Suspended Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit's trial has been postponed, the Graham Star reported on Wednesday. Graham County Board of Commissioners appointed Russell Moody to the office of Graham County Sheriff, according to the Graham Star. Hoxit was an unaffiliated sheriff so there was not a party to choose his replacement. Moody was previously elected as sheriff in 2006. He lost to Hoxit in 2022. 

Elders and Farmer shared many of the same positions such a commitment to investigating crimes big and small, hiring good teams and working to keep all community members safe. 

Jackson County GOP chair Justin Castle moderated the debate and asked both candidates, “How do you or how would you handle officer misconduct within the department? Has there been any reports in the last year that have been shared?”  

Farmer answered first that many personnel issues fall under specific statues and that he would follow policy. 

“I’m not going to deep in the weeds on this and say anything or do anything that would violate that statue,” he said, adding that if it is a violation of the law, then he would ask that the incident be investigated by an outside agency. 

Some people in the crowd heckled Farmer about a recent incident where a Jackson County deputy was videoed asleep in a patrol car in someone’s driveway. The incident was addressed on the office’s official Facebook page. 

“We are aware of a video floating around of one of our deputies asleep in our patrol car.   This does not in any way reflect who we are as an agency. This behavior is unacceptable to our agency and unfair to our citizens,” the post on Feb. 17 said. “This matter is being addressed internally in short order, with appropriate measures to ensure accountability moving forward.” 

Elders did not mention the sleeping driver. In his response, he said that everyone makes mistakes. 

“You need to treat misconduct or issues within a department. You need to apply the same standard for the voting citizens,” Elders said. 

The future Jackson County Sheriff will likely be decided in the Republican primary as no Democratic candidate filed to run for the office.

Election Open Tabs

Find your sample ballot here on the State Board of Elections website.  

The race to represent the 11th district in the U.S. Congress is more competitive than many districts in the state. During the primary, five Democrats are vying to represent the district which is comprised of more than 15 counties. 

Incumbent Congressman Chuck Edwards faces off against newcomer Adam Smith. Much has been written about the Democrats chances to ultimately win the district in the general election, but WCU political science professor Chris Cooper’s 2025 piece for The Assembly breaks down the history of the district and the potential for the flip. 

During early voting, I have been following the important local news interviews with candidates across the region. Want more info on your races? Here's a county-by-county round up:

Cherokee County  

• Local TV 4 Forum with the Board of Education and Sheriff Candidates 

• Local TV 4 Forum with Republican Commission Candidates

• Cherokee Scout coverage of Commission forum and additional local news coverage

Clay County 

• Check the Clay County Progress for local coverage.

Graham County 

• Graham Star hosted a GOP Primary forum for commission and sheriff candidates 

Swain County 

• Smoky Mountain News coverage of Swain Republican and Democratic primary sheriff candidates

• Candidates for Swain County Chairman by the Smoky Mountain News

• County Commission candidates for Swain County by the Smoky Mountain News   

• Swain County Board of Education candidates by the Smoky Mountain News

• NC-119 House of Representatives Q&A by the N&O 

Macon County 

• Macon County GOP Sheriff Forum posted by Macon Media

• Smoky Mountain News article on Macon Republican Sheriff Candidates 

• Check the Franklin Press for additional local interviews.

Jackson County 

• Candidates list from the Sylva Herald 

• Primary season off to a roaring start from the Sylva Herald

Haywood County 

• Smoky Mountain News article on Haywood Republican Sheriff primary candidates

• Smoky Mountain News forum with Haywood County Sheriff Candidates 

• The Mountaineer forum for Sheriff, County Commissioners, Tax Collector and NC-118 Register of Deeds candidates  

Buncombe County 

• Mountain Xpress primary election guide for Buncombe County for Asheville City Council, Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 2, U.S. House of Representatives District 11, Buncombe County Sherifff, N.C. District Court Judge — District 40, Seat 3 and Buncombe County District Attorney 

Transylvania County 

• Transylvania County Commission candidates from The Transylvania Times 

• NC-119 House of Representatives Q&A by the N&O 

Madison County 

• Madison County has crowded commissioner, school board candidate field featured in The Asheville Citizen Times 

• NC-118 contest profile by the Mountaineer 

• NC-118 contest profile by the Smoky Mountain News 

Henderson County

• Unlike most other counties in the state, Henderson County runs its municipal elections at the same time as midterms. That means municipal offices are on the ballot in Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Flat Rock, Mills River and Fletcher. 

• Who’s running in Henderson County? by Henderson Times News/Blue Ridge Now 

Polk County 

• The Assembly writes that “since joining the House in 2019, Rep. Jake Johnson of Polk County has steadily risen through party ranks to deputy majority whip, working to keep the caucus together on key votes,” marking this as one of the races in the state to watch and remarking that it is one of most expensive in the state. Johnson faces former House Majority Leader Mike Hager, “who abruptly resigned in 2016. A former engineer for Duke Energy, Hager occasionally clashed with top Republicans in the chamber and launched an unsuccessful bid for House speaker in 2014.”  

• NC-14 Congressional District (which covers Burke, Cleveland, Gaston, Rutherford as well as parts of Polk and Mecklenburg counties) candidates by WBTV.  Former State House Speaker Tim Moore was elected to the district which was created in 2023. Moore won the seat in 2024 and has filed for re-election along with three Democratic candidates and another Republican candidate.  

• Check out Polk County News for more local politics coverage. 

Rutherford County 

• NC-14 Congressional District (which covers Burke, Cleveland, Gaston, Rutherford as well as parts of Polk and Mecklenburg counties) candidates by WBTV. Former State House Speaker Tim Moore was elected to the district which was created in 2023. Moore won the seat in 2024 and has filed for re-election along with three Democratic candidates and another Republican candidate.  

• Check the Daily Courier, the Daily News Journal, and Rutherford Weekly for more local politics coverage. 

McDowell County 

• Meet McDowell County NC Republican primary candidates by McDowell News.

Yancey County 

• Incumbent Sheriff Shane Hilliard is unopposed, as reported by WLOS. The Yancey board of commissioners and board of education are also on the ballot. 

• Check the Yancey Common Times Journal for more local coverage. 

Mitchell County 

• The Race Is On by the Mitchell News-Journal.

• Commission candidate forum, judicial candidates and sheriff’s forum also in the Mitchell News-Journal.  

Avery County 

• 2026 primary election candidate list final as filing ends by The Avery Journal Times. 

• Trio of commission candidates respond to local issues by The Reflector.

• 2026 Political Beat candidate primary guide by WSOC-TV. 

Burke County 

• Who is running in Burke County primary elections? By The News Herald in Morganton .

• 2026 Political Beat candidate primary guide by WSOC-TV.

Watauga County

• Primary voter guide 2026 by The Watauga Democrat

My Favorite Trail: WNC House candidates 

Welcome to a regular feature of The Trailhead: My Favorite Trail. Each installment will feature a WNC trail. This week, local candidates shared their favorite spots . Want to share your favorite trail for a future newsletter? Email me! 

NC-119 candidate Anna Ferguson shared this picture of Charlie's Bunion. 

NC-118 incumbent Mark Pless' favorite trail: Pless said when the legislature is in session he goes to William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh. 

NC-119 candidate Jimmy Rogers' favorite trail: Rogers' couldn't pick just one. "So many on these beautiful mountains, the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are all favorites," he wrote. 

NC-119 candidate Anna Ferguson's favorite trail: Ferguson picked Charlies Bunion.  "You can often experience all four seasons while walking it. The view at the end is unbelievable," she wrote in an email.  It's an 8 mile round trip on the TN/NC state line in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

NC-119 candidate Mike Yow's favorite trail: Yow picked two: The Art Loeb Trail over Black Balsam off of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the Whiteside Mountain Loop between Cashiers/Highlands.  The Art Loeb Trail is a 30-mile trail with many options for day hikes. The Whiteside Mountain Loop is on the Jackson/Macon County line and is a two-mile loop.