{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Dave Forsythe","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"> **Editorial note \u2014 lost March 2026 primary.** Forsythe placed 3rd of 4 Republican candidates in the March 3, 2026 primary for NC Senate District 1, receiving 3,160 votes (15.8%) to winner Jerry Tillett's 7,543 votes (37.8%); Forsythe will not appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot [4].\n\nDavid Michael Forsythe is a Republican candidate for North Carolina Senate, District 1 in North Carolina's 2026 elections. The North Carolina State Board of Elections' 2026 candidate filing list shows David Michael Forsythe filing as a REP candidate on December 11, 2025 [1].\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, David Michael Forsythe is a registered voter in Gates County, North Carolina, registered since 2012 (14 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [2]. NC's bulk voter export publishes only year of birth, not a full date; the voter file lists David Michael Forsythe's year of birth as 1961 [2].\n\nThe voter history file shows 7 elections voted in since 2020, most recently the March 3, 2026 primary election [3].\n\nNo additional published biographical information beyond the candidate filing and voter records was located. Voters with personal knowledge of David Michael Forsythe can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections, 2026 Candidate Filing List](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Elections/2026/Candidate%20Filing/Candidate_Listing_2026.csv) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-21\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter registration file, accessed 2026-07-21 (https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), accessed 2026-07-21 (https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)\n\n[4] [North Carolina State Board of Elections, March 3, 2026 Official Precinct-Level Results](https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip) \u2014 NC Senate District 1 Republican primary, accessed 2026-07-24","firstname":"David","lastname":"Forsythe","middlename":"Michael","suffix":null,"token":"efb97f3ecc8ef5fb"},"token":"VvM3TKAa6jrqWyA4"},{"candidatename":"Jerry Tillett","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Jerry R. Tillett is a retired senior resident Superior Court judge who is the Republican nominee for North Carolina State Senate District\u202f1 in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election.  The state Senate is the upper chamber of the General Assembly; senators draft, debate, and vote on state laws, approve the budget, and represent the interests of their districts.  Tillett\u2019s campaign emphasizes restoring accountability, supporting coastal communities, and putting working people ahead of political insiders.\n\nTillett earned both his bachelor\u2019s degree in history and English and his J.D. from Wake\u202fForest University, graduating from law school in 1983\u202f[1][9].  After a brief stint at a large Winston\u2011Salem firm, he returned to Dare County and became a partner at Merrell, Tillett &\u202fBarnes, handling a broad civil and criminal practice that included extensive real\u2011estate work\u202f[15][9].  He served in the North Carolina House of Representatives, where he was appointed chief of staff and chief legal counsel to the Senate President\u202fPro\u202fTempore, drafting legislation and managing committee work\u202f[9][15].\n\nIn 1993 Governor Jim\u202fMartin appointed Tillett as one of two special Superior Court judges for the state; he was later selected as the resident Superior Court judge for Judicial District\u202f1 and was repeatedly elected, most recently unopposed in 2010 and with 100\u202f% of the vote in 2018\u202f[1][9][11].  Over more than three decades he presided in 86 of North Carolina\u2019s 100 counties, handling capital murder, medical\u2011negligence, and other complex cases\u202f[9][15].  He also established and managed the Dare County Recovery Court for opioid addiction\u202f[9][11].  In 2016 the Judicial Standards Commission issued a public reprimand for conduct related to a dispute with Kill\u202fDevil\u202fHills officials\u202f[20].  Tillett retired from the bench on May\u202f1,\u202f2025 after more than 32\u202fyears of service\u202f[11][13].\n\nFollowing retirement, Tillett announced his candidacy for the open Senate District\u202f1 seat\u2014vacated by Rep.\u202fBobby\u202fHanig, who is running for Congress\u2014by filing paperwork in September\u202f2025 and holding a series of fundraisers and community events in early\u202f2026\u202f[7][13][16].  He won the Republican primary on March\u202f3,\u202f2026 with 37.9\u202f% of the vote, defeating Jay\u202fLane, Dave\u202fForsythe, and Cole\u202fJohnson\u202f[1][14].  The primary was marked by allegations that an audio recording captured Tillett using a racial slur; he denied the claim and filed a defamation lawsuit\u202f[14].\n\nTillett\u2019s platform stresses pro\u2011business policies, support for fishermen and farmers, a balanced\u2011budget approach, and a strong defense of the Second Amendment\u202f[16][13].  He cites his judicial experience, knowledge of the district\u2019s 11\u2011county geography, and his long\u2011standing community involvement\u2014including leadership roles with the College of the Albemarle Board of Trustees, the Dare County Tourism Board, and the Farm\u202fBureau\u2014as qualifications for legislative service\u202f[9][15].  He also emphasizes his Christian faith and \u201cGod, family, and country\u201d values\u202f[13][16].\n\nIf elected, Tillett would bring a three\u2011decade judicial perspective to the Senate, leveraging his experience in law, public policy, and regional economic development to shape legislation affecting North Carolina\u2019s coastal and rural communities.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Jerry R. Tillett - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Jerry_R._Tillett)\n- [2] [United States Senate election in North Carolina, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_Senate_election_in_North_Carolina,_2026)\n- [6] [Upcoming Election | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/upcoming-election)\n- [7] [Home - Tillett for Senate](https://tillettforsenate.com/)\n- [8] [Retired Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett to run for NC ...](https://www.facebook.com/OuterBanksVoice/posts/retired-superior-court-judge-jerry-tillett-to-run-for-nc-senate-district-1-seatr/1400444742080640/)\n- [9] [Judge Jerry R. Tillett - Professional Background & Legal Expertise | Trellis.Law](https://trellis.law/judge/jerry.r.tillett)\n- [10] [The Outer Banks Voice - Retired Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett to run for NC Senate District 1 seat](https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2025/11/05/retired-superior-court-judge-jerry-tillett-to-run-for-nc-senate-district-1-seat/)\n- [11] [The Outer Banks Voice - Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett to retire on May 1](https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2025/04/15/superior-court-judge-jerry-tillett-to-retire-on-may-1/)\n- [13] [Retired Judge Jerry Tillett Explores Run for NC Senate District 1 \u2013 Albemarle Observer](https://albemarleobserver.news/2025/09/26/retired-judge-jerry-tillett-explores-run-for-nc-senate-district-1/)\n- [14] [Jerry Tillett Wins Republican State Senate Primary in Northeast N.C.](https://www.theassemblync.com/news/politics/elections/jerry-tillett-republican-primary-results/)\n- [15] [Jerry Tillett \u2013 Candidate for North Carolina State Senate, District 1](https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/news/jerry-tillett-candidate-for-north-carolina-state-senate-district-1-74795fb1)\n- [16] [Tillett wants to be voice for all residents of District 1 | Local News | dailyadvance.com](https://www.dailyadvance.com/news/local/tillett-wants-to-be-voice-for-all-residents-of-district-1/article_1b91754a-6dd6-4a0d-80c5-16bad895e8b3.html)\n- [17] [Jerry Tillett (Profile): Age, Phone, Locations, Background](https://www.instantcheckmate.com/people/jerry-tillett/)\n- [19] [THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR v. JERRY TILLETT (2016) | FindLaw](https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/nc-supreme-court/1762833.html)\n- [20] [Our View: Tillett\u0092s conduct deserved more than public reprimand | Local | dailyadvance.com](https://www.dailyadvance.com/opinion/local/our-view-tillett-s-conduct-deserved-more-than-public-reprimand/article_68f4199b-0cc5-5c83-bb72-aba528dc4994.html)","firstname":"Jerry","lastname":"Tillett","middlename":"Reginald","suffix":null,"token":"e6d03db180cb6e58"},"token":"klHYa19W-SsEna3H"},{"candidatename":"Cole Johnson","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nColton \"Cole\" Brice Johnson (Republican) ran for NC State Senate District 1 (northeastern NC) in the 2026 primary.\n\n## Background and education\n\nA first-generation farmer from Shiloh, NC.\n\n## Career\n\nJohnson served eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Expeditionary Firefighting and Rescue Specialist, reaching the rank of Sergeant. After his service, he and his wife Sarah established Yesteryear Farm in Shiloh, a small family dairy operating through a herd-share program, and organized the NC Food Freedom Festival on the property. He entered the 2026 race after discovering last-minute provisions in the state Farm Act threatened to shut down his herd-share operation.\n\n## Family\n\nMarried to Sarah Johnson; they operate Yesteryear Farm together.\n\n## Sources\n\n- [1] [Cole Johnson Announces Bid for NC Senate District 1 \u2013 Outer Banks Voice](https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2025/11/25/cole-johnson-announces-bid-for-district-1-seat-in-nc-senate/)","firstname":"Colton","lastname":"Johnson","middlename":"Brice","suffix":null,"token":"44505540c77c1152"},"token":"kc1eZalw8EU5xdfV"},{"candidatename":"Jay Lane","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"> **Status update.** John Roger Lane III (listed on the ballot as \"Jay Lane\") lost the Republican primary for North Carolina Senate District 1, placing second among four candidates behind winner Jerry Tillett, 6,295 votes to Tillett's 7,543 (March 3, 2026); Tillett advances to the November 3, 2026 general election [3].\n\nAccording to the North Carolina voter file, John Roger Lane III is a registered voter in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, registered since 2024 (2 years), with party affiliation listed as Republican [1].\n\nThe voter file shows John Roger Lane III's year of birth as 1998; NC publishes only the year of birth in its bulk voter export, so day and month are not part of the public record [1].\n\nThe voter history file shows 4 elections voted in since 2016, most recently the 2026-03-03 primary election [2].\n\nThis summary draws only from the public North Carolina voter registration and history records. No additional published biographical information was located. Voters with personal knowledge of John Roger Lane III can reach ballotproject.org with corrections or additions.\n\n## Sources\n[1] [North Carolina State Board of Elections \u2014 Voter Search](https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/)\n\n[2] North Carolina State Board of Elections voter history file (`ncvhis_Statewide`), published at [dl.ncsbe.gov](https://dl.ncsbe.gov/)\n\n[3] North Carolina State Board of Elections, March 3, 2026 primary results by precinct (results_pct_20260303, dl.ncsbe.gov) -- accessed 2026-07-24; NC State Senate District 01 (REP): Jerry Tillett 7,543, Jay Lane 6,295, Dave Forsythe 3,160, Cole Johnson 2,943.","firstname":"John","lastname":"Lane","middlename":"Roger","suffix":"III","token":"7ccf658b7bccb4e0"},"token":"2C1W8bZfeC73WjRz"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"state_senator","o.office":"state_senate","office":"state_senate","officedescription":"The Tennessee Senate is the upper chamber of the state legislature, with 33 members elected from single-member districts to four-year terms. Senators pass state laws, approve the state budget, confirm certain gubernatorial appointments, and \u2014 with the House \u2014 propose constitutional amendments.","officequalities":"- **Integrity** \u2014 Acts in the interest of constituents and the public good rather than for personal gain, and remains independent of undue influence from donors, lobbyists, and party leadership.\n- **Understanding of the constituency** \u2014 Grasps both the economic-development needs of the district and the day-to-day concerns of individual residents \u2014 safety, healthcare, education, infrastructure.\n- **Persuasion** \u2014 Engages, listens to, and persuades both fellow legislators and constituents. Can change minds and explain votes honestly.\n- **Legislative craft** \u2014 Reads, drafts, and amends statute with care. Understands how specific bill language translates to outcomes, and knows the body of law being modified.\n- **Coalition-building** \u2014 Finds common ground across partisan and factional lines, brokers compromises that hold, and forms working majorities even when consensus is hard to reach.","officeterm":2,"officetitle":"State Senator","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Nc State Senate District 01"}