Samuel Eric Southerland — Candidate for Duplin County Sheriff

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Office history

Sheriff — Duplin County, NC

2026

general

2026-03-03

Current office and 2026 campaign

Eric Southerland is the Republican nominee for Duplin County Sheriff. He won the March 3, 2026 Republican primary against incumbent Sheriff Stratton Stokes and candidate Tony James, receiving about 48% of the vote to Stokes's 38% and James's 13% ². With no Democratic candidate filed for the seat, Southerland is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 general-election ballot and is set to take office as Duplin County Sheriff on the first Monday in December 2026 ².

Career

Southerland is a graduate of James Sprunt Community College's Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program ³. He worked for the Duplin County Sheriff's Office for 11 years before serving as Chief of Police in Warsaw, North Carolina, for six years, from 2014 to 2020 ². Since retiring from the Warsaw Police Department in 2020, he has taught at James Sprunt Community College ².

Office history

Southerland served as Chief of Police in Warsaw, North Carolina, from 2014 to 2020 ². He previously spent 11 years with the Duplin County Sheriff's Office ². In the March 3, 2026 Republican primary for Duplin County Sheriff, Southerland defeated incumbent Sheriff Stratton Stokes and candidate Tony James, receiving 2,298 votes to Stokes's 1,823 and James's 629, according to North Carolina State Board of Elections precinct-level results ⁴. He is unopposed in the November 3, 2026 general election ².

Sources

1. Eric Southerland for Duplin County Sheriff -- Meet Eric

2. Southerland speaks after winning Duplin Co. sheriff primary -- WITN -- accessed 2026-07-20

3. Alum Eric Southerland Enjoys Career of a Lifetime in Law Enforcement -- James Sprunt Community College

4. North Carolina State Board of Elections, March 3, 2026 primary precinct-level results, accessed 2026-07-20 (https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/ENRS/2026_03_03/results_pct_20260303.zip

Public filings

Candidates and officeholders are required by law to file campaign finance reports and statements of economic interest. The sites below don't support direct links to an individual record — search by last name on each.

North Carolina — campaign finance

State, county, and municipal candidates — all in one system — NC State Board of Elections — Committee Search. Search by last name “Southerland”.

North Carolina — statement of economic interest

Required for state-elected and many local officials — NC State Ethics Commission — Statement of Economic Interest Search. Search by last name “Southerland”.

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