Eddie Dean Settle

Eddie D. Settle is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina’s 36th Senate district, which includes Alexander, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. He is on the ballot for re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election, having advanced automatically after the March 3, 2026 primary was cancelled ¹.

The North Carolina Constitution requires state senators to be at least 25 years old, a qualified voter, and to have lived in the state for two years and in the district for one year before election; senators serve two‑year terms with no term limits and receive a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per‑diem ².

Born in Wilkes County, Settle graduated from East Wilkes High School in 1978 and earned an associate degree in business from Wilkes Community College in 1979 ¹⁹. He entered the family‑owned Nu‑Line Printing, Inc. after college, later purchasing the business from his father in 1994, and founded the Settle Cattle Company in 1990 ¹¹⁷.

Settle began his public service as a Wilkes County commissioner in 2012, serving three consecutive terms. During his tenure he was chairman for four years and vice‑chairman for three, and sat on the Wilkes County Economic Development Corporation board and the county airport board ¹¹⁹. He was also appointed to the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), chairing its Agriculture Steering Committee for six years and later its Environmental Steering Committee ¹¹⁷.

In the 2022 election, Settle won the newly created Senate District 36 seat unopposed and was sworn in on January 1, 2023 ¹⁹. He was re‑elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Darren Staley with 79 % of the vote (88,102 votes) ¹. In the 2025‑2026 legislative session he served on several committees, including as Chair of the Commerce and Insurance Committee and member of the Agriculture, Energy and Environment, Appropriations on Agriculture, Natural and Economic Resources, Health Care, Transportation and State and Local Government committees ¹.

Settle’s campaign platform emphasizes low taxes, limited government spending, and support for small‑business growth. He opposes tax increases, advocates for second‑amendment rights, and is pro‑life, having led a county resolution designating Wilkes County a “haven for the unborn” ¹⁷²⁰. He supports expanding access to two‑year college degrees for high‑school graduates, opposes the teaching of Critical Race Theory, and promotes agricultural and environmental initiatives such as improving cattle markets and water‑quality programs ¹⁷²⁰.

Overall, Settle’s record combines business ownership, extensive county‑level leadership, and two years of state‑legislative experience, positioning him as a seasoned Republican candidate seeking a second term in the North Carolina Senate.

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