{"biography":"Eddie D. Settle is the incumbent Republican State Senator for North Carolina\u2019s 36th Senate district, which includes Alexander, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties. He is on the ballot for re\u2011election in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election, having advanced automatically after the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 primary was cancelled\u202f[1].\n\nThe 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\u2011year terms with no term limits and receive a salary of $13,951 per year plus a $104 per\u2011diem\u202f[2].\n\nBorn in Wilkes County, Settle graduated from East\u202fWilkes High School in 1978 and earned an associate degree in business from Wilkes Community College in 1979\u202f[1][9]. He entered the family\u2011owned Nu\u2011Line Printing, Inc. after college, later purchasing the business from his father in 1994, and founded the Settle Cattle Company in 1990\u202f[1][17].\n\nSettle 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\u2011chairman for three, and sat on the Wilkes County Economic Development Corporation board and the county airport board\u202f[1][19]. 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\u202f[1][17].\n\nIn the 2022 election, Settle won the newly created Senate District\u202f36 seat unopposed and was sworn in on January\u202f1,\u202f2023\u202f[1][9]. He was re\u2011elected in 2024, defeating Democrat Darren Staley with 79\u202f% of the vote (88,102 votes)\u202f[1]. In the 2025\u20112026 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\u202f[1].\n\nSettle\u2019s campaign platform emphasizes low taxes, limited government spending, and support for small\u2011business growth. He opposes tax increases, advocates for second\u2011amendment rights, and is pro\u2011life, having led a county resolution designating Wilkes County a \u201chaven for the unborn\u201d\u202f[17][20]. He supports expanding access to two\u2011year college degrees for high\u2011school graduates, opposes the teaching of Critical Race Theory, and promotes agricultural and environmental initiatives such as improving cattle markets and water\u2011quality programs\u202f[17][20].\n\nOverall, Settle\u2019s record combines business ownership, extensive county\u2011level leadership, and two years of state\u2011legislative experience, positioning him as a seasoned Republican candidate seeking a second term in the North Carolina Senate.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Eddie Settle - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Eddie_Settle)\n- [2] [North Carolina State Senate District 36 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_State_Senate_District_36)\n- [3] [Darren Staley - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Darren_Staley)\n- [4] [North Carolina elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/North_Carolina_elections,_2026)\n- [6] [Senator Eddie D. Settle - Biography - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www3.ncleg.gov/Members/Biography/S/446)\n- [7] [Senate Members 2025-2026 Session - North Carolina General Assembly](https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/MemberList/s)\n- [8] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [9] [Eddie Settle - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Settle)\n- [10] [2026 North Carolina Senate election - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_North_Carolina_Senate_election)\n- [12] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [13] [Eddie Settle for NC Senate | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/settleforsenate/)\n- [14] [See the full list of candidates running in North Carolina's ...](https://www.facebook.com/thecharlotteobserver/posts/see-the-full-list-of-candidates-running-in-north-carolinas-2026-electionsread-mo/1306299098202723/)\n- [16] [State Senator Eddie Settle | BillTrack50](https://www.billtrack50.com/legislatordetail/28095)\n- [17] [Senator Eddie Settle Official Campaign Website](https://www.eddiesettle.com/)\n- [18] [North Carolina State Sen. Eddie Settle - Biography | LegiStorm](https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/442634/Eddie_D_Settle.html)\n- [19] [Get to know Sen.-elect Eddie Settle - NC Tribune](https://nctribune.com/news/2022/jun/03/get-to-know-sen-elect-eddie-settle/)\n- [20] [ABOUT - Official Campaign: Eddie Settle for Senate](https://www.eddiesettle.com/about-eddie-settle/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_036","county":"alexander","county_count":13,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc State Senate District 36"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Eddie","fullname":"Eddie Dean Settle","lastname":"Settle","middlename":"Dean","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_senate_036","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 36","county":"alexander","county_count":13,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_senate","office_title":"State Senator","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_senate_036","contest_title":"Nc State Senate District 36","county":"alexander","county_count":13,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","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":"Eddie Settle is the Republican incumbent State Senator for NC District\u202f36, running for re\u2011election in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"93199b12f214137e"}