Nathan Michael Mace

Nathan Michael Mace is the Republican candidate for McDowell County Sheriff in the 2026 North Carolina general election, with the primary held on March 3, 2026 ¹. The sheriff’s office in North Carolina counties is responsible for law‑enforcement patrol, criminal investigations, operating the county jail, serving civil process, and providing court security; the elected sheriff also sets policy, manages the budget, and oversees all deputy personnel.

Mace has spent more than half a decade in senior leadership of the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office. In May 2018 he was appointed chief deputy, the second‑in‑command position that supervises day‑to‑day operations, coordinates patrol units, and manages the jail and administrative staff ¹¹. He continued in that role at least through early 2025, when a local radio station highlighted his participation in a community event as “Chief Deputy Nathan Mace from MCSO” ¹⁰. The chief deputy position gives Mace direct experience with the core functions of the sheriff’s office and familiarity with the county’s public‑safety needs.

Public biographical details such as education or prior law‑enforcement assignments are not provided in the available sources. Ballotpedia does not list a résumé or endorsements for Mace, and he has not completed the site’s Candidate Connection survey ¹.

As a candidate, Mace is running on the Republican ticket and was listed on the primary ballot alongside three other Republicans: J. S. Calvert, Bryon Crisp, and Brent Allen Rumfelt ¹. No formal campaign platform or policy statements are recorded in the sources, but his long tenure as chief deputy suggests a focus on continuity of law‑enforcement services and internal office experience. Voters can contact his campaign via the email address posted on the Ballotpedia page, [email protected], which the site encourages the public to use for inquiries ¹.

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