{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Charles Blackwood","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nAs of 2026, Charles Blackwood serves as Sheriff of Orange County, North Carolina, having won the Democratic primary for a fourth term with 58.41% of the vote over challenger David LaBarre [13]. He will appear on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot [6][13]. Blackwood's campaign emphasizes \"institutional knowledge\" and accountability, citing his tenure as key to continuity in the office [4][15].\n\nIn March 2025, Governor Josh Stein appointed Blackwood to chair the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission [1][10][11][12]. He also became President of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association in 2025 [5][9].\n\n## Background and education\n\nBlackwood is a 45-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, according to his campaign biography [2]. He began his law-enforcement career as a patrol deputy in 1980 and was later promoted to Captain of Services and Major of Operations before his first election as sheriff [13]. He is featured as a public-safety profile subject on the website of Wake Forest University's School of Professional Studies [7]; the page does not describe a specific faculty or advisory-board title for him.\n\n## Career\n\nBefore and during his time as sheriff, Blackwood rose through the ranks of the Orange County Sheriff's Office over a 45-year career, per his campaign's own account [2][13]. He was elected President of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association in 2025 [5][9] and, separately, was appointed by Governor Stein to chair the North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission the same year [1][10][11][12]. In a February 2026 interview, Blackwood discussed his platform and record as he sought re-election [8].\n\n## Office history\n\nBlackwood was first elected Orange County Sheriff in 2014, narrowly defeating David Caldwell [13]. He won a second term in 2018 after defeating Tony White in the Democratic primary [13], and ran unopposed for a third term in 2022 [13]. In the 2026 Democratic primary, he defeated David LaBarre with 58.41% of the vote, securing a fourth term [6][13].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs county sheriff, Blackwood does not sponsor legislation or cast votes in the North Carolina General Assembly; his policy influence runs through executive leadership and the advisory roles described above. As President of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, he leads the state's primary sheriffs' advocacy organization [5][9][14]. He has emphasized \"institutional knowledge\" and accountability as central to his approach to public safety and community trust [4][15].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Orange County Sheriff Tapped to Serve as Chairman of Governor's Crime Commission \u2013 NC DPS](https://www.ncdps.gov/news/press-releases/2025/03/20/orange-county-sheriff-tapped-serve-chairman-governors-crime-commission)\n[2] [About Charles \u2013 Re-Elect Charles Blackwood Sheriff of Orange County](https://www.blackwoodforsheriff.com/about)\n[3] [News \u2013 Re-Elect Charles Blackwood Sheriff of Orange County](https://www.blackwoodforsheriff.com/news)\n[4] [Q&A: Blackwood campaigns on accountability, building trust \u2013 newsoforange.com](https://www.newsoforange.com/community/article_db9798c4-949c-4f3e-bfb4-f7105e92aa98.html)\n[5] [Sheriff Blackwood picked to be President of N.C. Sheriffs' Association \u2013 newsoforange.com](https://www.newsoforange.com/community/article_ffa14170-0ce8-11ed-8631-13604401c2a3.html)\n[6] [Incumbent Charles Blackwood projected to win Democratic primary for Orange County Sheriff \u2013 Daily Tar Heel](https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/city-orange-county-sherrif-breakings-20260304)\n[7] [Sheriff Charles Blackwood \u2013 School of Professional Studies at Wake Forest University](https://sps.wfu.edu/profiles/sheriff-charles-blackwood/)\n[8] [A conversation with Sheriff Charles Blackwood, who is running for re-election in Orange County \u2013 thecarrborean.com](https://www.thecarrborean.com/a-conversation-with-sheriff-charles-blackwood-who-is-running-for-re-election-in-orange-county/)\n[9] [Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood Becomes President of North Carolina Sheriffs' Association \u2013 The Local Reporter](https://thelocalreporter.press/orange-county-sheriff-charles-blackwood-becomes-president-of-north-carolina-sheriffs-association/)\n[10] [Orange County Sheriff Blackwood Appointed to Chair of North Carolina Governor's Crime Commission \u2013 Chapelboro.com](https://chapelboro.com/news/state-news/orange-county-sheriff-blackwood-appointed-to-chair-of-north-carolina-governors-crime-commission)\n[11] [Governor Stein Appoints Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood Chair of Crime Commission \u2013 ocsonc.com](https://www.ocsonc.com/press-release-archive-1/governor-stein-appoints-orange-county-sheriff-charles-blackwood-chair-of-crime-commission)\n[12] [Veteran lawman leads crime advisory panel \u2013 North Carolina Lawyers Weekly](https://nclawyersweekly.com/2025/03/24/veteran-lawman-leads-crime-advisory-panel/)\n[13] [Charles Blackwood Earns Election to Fourth Term as Orange County Sheriff Following Primary Win \u2013 Chapelboro.com](https://chapelboro.com/local-election-coverage/charles-blackwood-earns-election-to-fourth-term-as-orange-county-sheriff)\n[14] [Charles Blackwood \u2013 IndyWeek](https://indyweek.com/news/politics/elections/charles-blackwood/)\n[15] [Q&A: Orange County Sheriff candidate Charles Blackwood says 'institutional knowledge is critical' \u2013 Daily Tar Heel](https://dailytarheel.com/article/city-sheriff-charles-blackwood-elections-qanda-20260224)","firstname":"Charles","lastname":"Blackwood","middlename":"Stuart","suffix":null,"token":"a9f10715525175f4"},"token":"jQj4oDveAYOTjaoF"}],"choices":null,"description":null,"district":null,"districtgroup":null,"districtgroupname":null,"districtname":null,"job_type":"sheriff","o.office":"county_sheriff","office":"county_sheriff","officedescription":"The sheriff is the county's chief law-enforcement officer. The office operates the county jail, provides court security, serves civil process and executes warrants, and provides patrol and investigation \u2014 a large operational command with a substantial budget.","officequalities":"- Organizational leadership of a sheriff's office spanning patrol, investigations, court services, and the county jail.\n- Oversight of the county jail, including intake, inmate health, and release procedures.\n- Working knowledge of Tennessee criminal law, court process, and constitutional search-and-seizure standards.\n- Ability to develop and oversee the office's operating budget with public accountability.\n- Coordination with municipal police departments and neighboring-county and state agencies.\n- A documented law-enforcement or public-safety background.","officeterm":4,"officetitle":"Sheriff","partisan":1,"pgr":"general","quantity":1,"referendum":null,"source":null,"title":"Orange County Sheriff"}