{"biography":"Ken McCool is the Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives, District 105, on the November 3, 2026 ballot. The seat is part of the state\u2019s lower legislative chamber, which enacts laws, adopts the budget, and represents the interests of constituents in its district [1].\n\nA lifelong resident of Matthews, McCool entered public service at age 21, becoming one of the youngest elected officials in North Carolina history when he won a seat on the Matthews Town Council. He has been re\u2011elected to the council multiple times, most recently appearing on the 2019 town\u2011council ballot where he received 9.3\u202f% of the vote among six at\u2011large seats [1]. In his council role, McCool has focused on affordable housing, public safety, and what he describes as \u201csmart growth.\u201d According to his campaign website, he helped deliver the town\u2019s largest park investment in a generation and assisted in recruiting a major advanced\u2011manufacturing campus that promises high\u2011paying jobs for the region [16]. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee profile adds that he has worked to increase affordable housing and bring economic opportunities to his community while serving on the council [13].\n\nOutside elected office, McCool runs a family\u2011owned small business, positioning himself as a \u201csmall business leader\u201d in the district. His campaign messaging emphasizes dedication to working\u2011family issues, public\u2011education funding, and opposition to policies that favor private\u2011school vouchers at the expense of public schools [1]. The Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey records his stance on public\u2011education reform and other policy priorities [1].\n\nMcCool\u2019s 2026 campaign is being supported by the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which highlights his goal of flipping the District\u202f105 seat from its Republican incumbent, Tricia Cotham, who won the Republican primary earlier in March 2026 [13][18]. The primary for the Democratic side was canceled, leaving McCool as the party\u2019s sole nominee [1].\n\nWhile some local commentary has criticized McCool\u2019s development record, describing him as aligned with developers and accusing him of \u201cselling out\u201d residents, these viewpoints are part of the public discourse surrounding his candidacy and do not reflect official campaign positions [15].\n\nIf elected, McCool would join the 120\u2011member House, where he would be expected to vote on state legislation, serve on committees, and advocate for the needs of District\u202f105 constituents, continuing the policy themes he has championed on the town council and in his campaign platform.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Ken McCool - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Ken_McCool)\n- [3] [Candidate Lists | NCSBE](https://www.ncsbe.gov/results-data/candidate-lists)\n- [8] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [13] [Ken McCool - Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee](https://www.dlcc.org/candidates/ken-mccool/)\n- [15] [Ken McCool\u2019s Campaign Launch Exposes a Troubling Truth: \u201cHe Will Sell You Out\u201d](https://www.nchouserepublicans.com/post/ken-mccool-s-campaign-launch-exposes-a-troubling-truth-he-will-sell-you-out)\n- [16] [Ken McCool for North Carolina | Official Campaign Website](https://kenmccool.com/)\n- [18] [Tricia Cotham wins 2026 Republican primary for North Carolina House District 105, AP projects](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/03/04/tricia-cotham-wins-2026-republican-primary-north-carolina-house-district-105-ap-projects/)\n- [20] [Who is running for election in 2026? - NCLocal](https://nclocal.org/2025/12/22/who-is-running-for-election-in-2026/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_105","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 105"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Kenneth","fullname":"Kenneth John Mccool","lastname":"Mccool","middlename":"John","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"state_house_105","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 105","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":null,"cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"state_house_105","contest_title":"Nc House Of Representatives District 105","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":null,"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"state_house","office_title":"State Representative","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Ken McCool is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina House District\u202f105, a small\u2011business leader and Matthews town\u2011council member seeking to flip the seat in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"d7bb22f4186f35c0"}