Tonya Denise Mcdaniel

Tonya D. McDaniel is the incumbent Democratic commissioner for Forsyth County Board of Commissioners District A, seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election. She has served on the board since her appointment in December 2018 and was first elected that November; her current term runs until December 7, 2026【1†L1-L4】【2†L4-L9】. As a county commissioner, McDaniel helps set policy, approve the county budget, and oversee services such as public safety, health, and infrastructure for the district’s residents【2†L13-L16】. She has focused on equity in property‑tax rates and school‑funding allocations for District A, working to ensure fair distribution of resources across the county【2†L13-L16】.

McDaniel was raised in a military family with roots in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and is a Winston‑Salem native. She earned a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration from Winston‑Salem State University and an M.P.A. from North Carolina Central University in 2016【2†L7-L10】. She is the god‑daughter of the late Earline Parmon, a former Forsyth County commissioner and state legislator, whose mentorship inspired McDaniel’s public‑service career【2†L11-L13】.

Before her election, McDaniel worked on community advocacy, especially after the 2011 loss of her son Trayvon to gun violence, which led her to partner with Moms Demand Action and other groups to push for criminal‑justice and health‑care reforms in the county jail system【9†L1-L9】. She has held leadership roles with the NAACP, Zeta Phi Beta sorority, and the National Association of Counties Veterans & Military Services Committee, among others【2†L19-L22】. She also served on the North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council, contributing to the State Medical Facilities Plan after being appointed by Governor Roy Cooper【2†L17-L18】.

In recent elections, McDaniel won the Democratic primary for District A with 36.4% of the vote (6,552 votes) and advanced to the general election, where she will again run alongside fellow Democrat Malishai Woodbury against Republican Contessa Smith【1†L24-L31】. She was re‑elected in 2022 with 39.6% of the vote (21,050 votes)【1†L38-L44】. Her public statements emphasize attracting new businesses, fostering partnerships with local colleges and technical schools, and balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship【10†L13-L18】.

Outside of her official duties, McDaniel enjoys Zumba, Scrabble, and spending time with her three children and three grandchildren【2†L23-L24】. She remains active in community outreach, including COVID‑19 public‑health messaging and soliciting resident input through the Forsyth County Community Survey【5†L1-L3】【7†L1-L5】.

Sources

• [1] Tonya McDaniel - Ballotpedia
• [2] Tonya D. McDaniel
• [5] Commissioner Tonya McDaniel and the rest of the Forsyth County commissioners urge everyone to help stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) by staying... | By Forsyth County North Carolina Government | Facebook
• [6] Vote Tonya McDaniel for County Commissioner District A
• [7] Vote Tonya McDaniel for County Commissioner District A
• [8] Tonya D. McDaniel
• [9] Woman to Watch: Tonya McDaniel | Women AdvaNCe
• [10] Tonya McDaniel | BallotReady
• [11] McDaniel and El-Amin win Democratic primary in District A commissioners race