Tommy Steve Wooten II

Tommy S. Wooten II is the incumbent Sheriff of Pasquotank County, North Carolina, and is seeking a third term in the Republican primary on March 3, 2026. He has served as the county’s chief law‑enforcement officer since being sworn in on December 3, 2018 and remains the sheriff as of 2025 [8].

Wooten first won the sheriff’s office in the 2018 general election, becoming the first Republican to hold the position in more than a century. He was re‑elected in the 2022 general election, again defeating Democrat Eddie Graham [9][2]. In 2026 he faces Deputy Nina Daniels in the Republican primary, with no Democratic challenger on the November ballot [1][9].

During his tenure Wooten has pursued several community‑safety initiatives. He negotiated a partnership with Sentara Albemarle Medical Center to place full‑time deputies at the hospital, securing funding for the arrangement [7]. He also obtained funding for four additional School Resource Officers, expanding coverage to the county’s two high schools, two middle schools, a technical school and several elementary schools [7]. A collaboration with the Department of Social Services provides special deputy security officers to guard the DSS building on weekdays [7].

Wooten’s current platform emphasizes new projects. He is working to place six sworn deputies at the new hospital on Halstead Boulevard Extension to improve security for health‑care workers, with a contract vote scheduled for January 20 [9]. He proposes “special deputies” equipped with Tasers to protect the DSS facility, and is developing a four‑year “step‑down unit” to assist recently released inmates with re‑entry services [9]. A proposed Special Victims Unit is also under consideration, pending state funding [9].

Public safety incidents have highlighted his role. In March 2024, Sheriff Wooten reported a pursuit that ended with a suspect firing a rifle toward a Pasquotank County deputy; the deputy was unharmed and the suspect was later apprehended [10].

If he secures the Republican nomination, Wooten will run unopposed in the November general election. His campaign stresses respect, professionalism, and a record of expanding law‑enforcement resources while outlining future projects for the county [9].

Personal background, education and prior career details are not provided in the available sources.

Sources

• [1] Tommy Wooten (Pasquotank County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia
• [2] Tommy Wooten (Pasquotank County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia
• [7] Home - Sheriff Tommy Wooten
• [8] Sheriffs of Pasquotank County — Pasquotank County North Carolina
• [9] Unfinished work inspires Wooten to seek third term | Local News | dailyadvance.com
• [10] 1 arrested after shooting toward Pasquotank Co. deputy, authorities say