{"biography":"Samuel \"Sam\" Page is the elected Sheriff of Rockingham County, North Carolina, a position he has held since 1998 and will occupy through December\u202f31,\u202f2026\u202f[3]. In 2026 he is the Republican nominee for the North Carolina State Senate, District\u202f26, after defeating longtime Senate President Pro Tempore Phil\u202fBerger in the March\u202f3 primary and advancing to the November\u202f3 general election against Democrat Steve Luking\u202f[1][4][9][15].\n\nPage grew up in Reidsville, graduating from Reidsville High School in 1975\u202f[1]. He immediately entered the U.S. Air Force, serving five years (1975\u20111980) as a security\u2011forces K\u20119 handler\u202f[1]. After his military service he began a career in law\u2011enforcement, working as a patrolman, criminal investigator and administrator before running for sheriff\u202f[1].\n\nAs Rockingham County sheriff, Page has overseen the department for more than two decades, earning the presidency of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association and leading the \u201cSheriffs for Trump\u201d coalition in 2016\u202f[8]. He also served as President Donald Trump\u2019s North Carolina campaign chair in 2020\u202f[8]. Page gained statewide attention for opposing a 2023 casino\u2011expansion proposal championed by Berger, arguing the project conflicted with the district\u2019s conservative, faith\u2011based values\u202f[4][12][14].\n\nPage\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes a \u201ctough\u2011on\u2011crime\u201d agenda: reinstating the death penalty, strengthening penalties for violent offenders, and providing law\u2011enforcement and prosecutors with additional tools\u202f[8]. On education, he proposes raising the starting salary for teachers to $50,000, expanding incentives to retain educators, and implementing \u201csmart, accountable\u201d school\u2011choice policies with safeguards\u202f[8]. He also backs repealing the public\u2011records exemption passed by Berger, instituting term limits for legislative leadership, and cutting taxes on overtime and tipped wages\u202f[8].\n\nIn the primary, Page\u2019s narrow victory\u2014initially reported as a two\u2011vote margin and later certified at a 23\u2011vote lead after canvassing\u2014represented a seismic shift in North Carolina politics, unseating the state\u2019s most powerful Republican legislator\u202f[1][4][9][12][15][16][17][18]. Despite being outspent by Berger by more than 50\u2011to\u20111, Page\u2019s grassroots support and local reputation helped secure the win\u202f[14]. He has pledged to focus on the needs of Guilford and Rockingham counties in the upcoming general election\u202f[1][18].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Sam Page (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Sam_Page_(North_Carolina))\n- [3] [Samuel \"Sam\" Page | BallotReady](https://www.ballotready.org/people/sam-page)\n- [4] [Republican Phil Berger, one of North Carolina\u2019s most powerful politicians, concedes state Senate primary to Sam Page | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/24/politics/phil-berger-sam-page-north-carolina-senate)\n- [8] [Sam Page - N.C. Senate](https://www.sampagenc.com/)\n- [9] [Sam Page certified winner of NC senate primary by 23 votes; Berger hints at recount | wfmynews2.com](https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/politics/sam-page-certified-winner-of-nc-senate-gop-primary-by-23-votes-berger-may-seek-recount/83-eb2f37e1-3f26-4ce9-b2d3-c01054305fda)\n- [10] [Sam Page continues to lead Phil Berger by 23 votes after county canvass](https://www.wxii12.com/article/sam-page-continues-lead-phil-berger-23-votes-after-county-canvass/70737616)\n- [12] [Sheriff Sam Page leads Senate Leader Berger in GOP primary by two votes | WUNC News](https://www.wunc.org/elections/2026-03-03/sheriff-sam-page-defeats-senate-leader-berger-in-gop-primary-by-two-votes)\n- [14] [Senate Leader Phil Berger concedes GOP primary race to Rockingham Sheriff Sam Page - ABC11 Raleigh-Durham](https://abc11.com/post/senate-leader-phil-berger-concedes-gop-primary-race-rockingham-sheriff-sam-page/18764065/)\n- [15] [Just 2 votes separate Sam Page and Phil Berger in race for NC Senate District 26 | Recount possible | wfmynews2.com](https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/politics/elections/just-2-votes-separate-sam-page-phil-berger-race-nc-senate-district-26-recount-expected/83-503d8327-4864-4f7e-a8b6-e5ebf9d6f2f1)\n- [16] [23 votes. Canvass confirms narrow Page edge over Berger. Recount likely.](https://carolinapublicpress.org/74841/23-votes-canvass-confirms-narrow-page-edge-over-berger-recount-likely/)\n- [17] ['Most powerful' N.C. state senator trails primary challenger by 2 votes despite Trump's endorsement](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/north-carolina-senate-primary-phil-berger-sam-page-trump-rcna261650)\n- [18] [Page\u2019s lead widens in race to unseat NC Senate\u2019s top Republican :: WRAL.com](https://www.wral.com/news/nccapitol/sam-page-lead-widens-unseat-phil-berger-rockingham-nc-26th-senate-primary-march-2026/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_026","county":"guilford","county_count":2,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 26"},{"contest":"state_senate_026","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 26"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Samuel","fullname":"Samuel Scott Page","lastname":"Page","middlename":"Scott","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_026","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 26","county":"guilford","county_count":2,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"state_senate_026","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 26","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_026","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 26","county":null,"county_count":0,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sam Page, Rockingham County sheriff, is the Republican nominee for NC State Senate District\u202f26 after narrowly defeating Senate leader Phil Berger in the 2026 primary.","terms":[],"token":"21fd87f9909b983c"}