{"campaigns":[{"candidatename":"Kenny Blackwell","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"REP","person":{"biography":"Kenneth Judson Blackwell\u202fJr. is the Republican candidate for Wake County Sheriff in the 2026 general election, scheduled for November\u202f3,\u202f2026. The sheriff\u2019s office in Wake County is the chief law\u2011enforcement agency for the county, responsible for operating the county jail, providing court security, serving civil processes, and overseeing public safety initiatives such as traffic enforcement and emergency response. The office requires a candidate to be a resident of the county, meet age and citizenship qualifications, and possess a background in law enforcement or related public\u2011service experience. Blackwell meets these statutory requirements and, after the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 Republican primary was canceled, advanced automatically to the November ballot alongside incumbent Democrat Willie Rowe [4].\n\nBorn on September\u202f7,\u202f1962, Blackwell grew up in the Fowler\u2019s Crossroads community outside Rolesville, North Carolina. He married his high\u2011school sweetheart Deborah Fuller in 1982; the couple raised two daughters and later welcomed two grandchildren before Deborah\u2019s death in January\u202f2021. In November\u202f2022 he married Cheryl Parrish, a longtime friend and classmate. Outside of his career, Blackwell enjoys fishing, reading, drawing, and spending time with his wife and their dog Milo [12].\n\nBlackwell\u2019s professional life has been spent entirely in law\u2011enforcement. He began as a Wake County Deputy, later served as a U.S. Marshal, and is currently an Investigator with the North Carolina State Capitol Police. These roles have given him experience in criminal investigations, federal\u2011state coordination, and community policing. His r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is highlighted on his campaign website, which emphasizes his long\u2011standing commitment to public safety and his familiarity with the challenges facing Wake County [12].\n\nThe campaign platform, as outlined on his website, focuses on several priority areas: reducing emergency response times; cracking down on fentanyl and other opioids; rescuing victims of human trafficking; expanding mental\u2011health services; increasing salaries for deputies and detention officers; and promoting a community\u2011focused approach to public safety. Blackforce also pledges transparency, accountability, and accessibility for both citizens and department employees if elected [4][12].\n\nBlackwell\u2019s contact information for voters includes an email address (kenny@kenny4wake.com) provided on the Ballotpedia page, and his campaign website (https://kenny4wake.com/) offers additional details and a means for supporters to get involved [4][12].\n\n## Sources\n- [4] [Kenny Blackwell - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Kenny_Blackwell)\n- [5] [Kenneth Blackwell - NCDOJ](https://ncdoj.gov/officers/kenneth-blackwell/)\n- [12] [Kenny Blackwell for Wake County Sheriff](https://kenny4wake.com/)","firstname":"Kenneth","lastname":"Blackwell","middlename":"Judson","suffix":"JR","token":"0b13540f2508903c"},"token":"MR56C1qzCmLjYxcM"},{"candidatename":"Willie Rowe","chatgptsummary":null,"notes":null,"party":"DEM","person":{"biography":"## Current office and 2026 campaign\n\nWillie Rowe is a Democratic Party candidate running for re-election as Wake County Sheriff in North Carolina [1]. He currently holds the office of Wake County Sheriff, having previously served as a 30-year veteran of the Wake County Sheriff's Office where he retired in 2013 as a Major [3][7]. Rowe began his tenure as a deputy in 1985 after serving in the United States Army as a sergeant [7].\n\nRowe is seeking to retain his position in the 2026 Wake County elections [2]. His campaign website states that he continues to serve in other leadership capacities, including on the North Carolina Emergency Response team [8]. In April 2025, Rowe announced new mental health treatment options for defendants deemed incapable to proceed in collaboration with NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai [4].\n\nRecent campaign developments include Rowe meeting with law enforcement leaders across Wake County and visiting the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to discuss inter-agency collaboration [10]. The candidate has secured endorsements from North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, former Raleigh Mayor Nancy McFarlane, and other community organizations [9]. His stated priorities for the office include reducing crime and enhancing public safety by increasing officer presence and engagement in communities [7].\n\n## Background and education\n\nWillie Louis Rowe is a 30-year veteran of the Wake County Sheriff\u2019s Office who began his tenure as a deputy in 1985 [7][8]. Prior to joining the sheriff's office, he served in the United States Army as a sergeant [7][8]. He retired from the Sheriff\u2019s Office in 2013 with the rank of Major [7][8].\n\nThe provided sources do not contain information regarding his birthplace, year of birth, upbringing, religion, or specific educational degrees earned.\n\n## Career\n\nWillie Rowe served in the United States Army as a sergeant before beginning his tenure with the Wake County Sheriff\u2019s Office as a deputy in 1985 [7][8]. He remained with the agency for 30 years, retiring from the position of Major in 2013 [7][8].\n\nRowe continues to serve in leadership capacities within the state and county following his retirement from active duty [8]. He serves on the North Carolina Emergency Response team [8]. In April 2025, he collaborated with NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai to announce new mental health treatment options for defendants deemed incapable to proceed [4].\n\n## Office history\n\nWillie Rowe served as a deputy in the Wake County Sheriff\u2019s Office for 30 years, beginning his tenure in 1985 after serving as a sergeant in the United States Army [7][8]. He retired from the Sheriff\u2019s Office in 2013 with the rank of Major [7][8].\n\nRowe was elected as the Sheriff of Wake County, North Carolina, representing the entire county [5]. As Sheriff, he oversees the Wake County Sheriff\u2019s Office and collaborates with other agencies, such as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, on law enforcement matters [3][10]. He also engages in state-level leadership, serving on the North Carolina Emergency Response Commission alongside officials from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [4][8].\n\nRowe is a candidate for re-election to the office of Wake County Sheriff in the 2026 election [2][6].\n\n## Legislative record and accomplishments\n\nAs a law enforcement official rather than an elected legislator, Sheriff Willie Rowe has not sponsored bills or served on legislative committees [1]. His policy work focuses on operational collaboration and public safety initiatives within Wake County and the state of North Carolina [7]. In April 2025, Rowe partnered with North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai to announce new mental health treatment options for defendants deemed incapable to proceed in the legal system [4].\n\nRowe emphasizes reducing crime and enhancing public safety through increased officer presence and community engagement as a core priority of his administration [7]. He has stated that maintaining strong working relationships between local agencies and state bodies, such as the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), is essential for effective collaboration on investigations [10]. Rowe serves on the North Carolina Emergency Response team, reflecting his continued involvement in state-level leadership capacities beyond his role as sheriff [8].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Willie Rowe - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Willie_Rowe)\n[2] [Wake County, North Carolina, elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Wake_County,_North_Carolina,_elections,_2026)\n[3] [Sheriff's Office - Willie Rowe, Sheriff | Wake County Government](https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/sheriffs-office-willie-rowe-sheriff)\n[4] [NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai and Wake ...](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/04/11/nc-health-and-human-services-secretary-dev-sangvai-and-wake-county-sheriff-willie-rowe-announce-new)\n[5] [List of sheriffs of Wake County, North Carolina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sheriffs_of_Wake_County,_North_Carolina)\n[6] [2026 Wake County elections - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Wake_County_elections)\n[7] [Willie Rowe: Wake County Sheriff](https://www.roweforsheriff.com/)\n[8] [About | Willie Rowe](https://www.roweforsheriff.com/about)\n[9] [Endorsements - Willie Rowe](https://www.roweforsheriff.com/endorsements)\n[10] [Yesterday morning, Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe met with law ...](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUs9OxpjGK6/)","firstname":"Willie","lastname":"Rowe","middlename":"Louis","suffix":null,"token":"3cb6908b8a99bed1"},"token":"_dGbSl6dk4oD_DD3"}],"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":"Wake County Sheriff"}