2026 North Carolina General Election

2026 North Carolina Primary Election

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Commissioner Appointments to Boards & Committees | Union ...

Brian Helms is a Piedmont high school graduate and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has two children. 

Brian has worked in manufacturing for over 25 years. 

Brian W. Helms's campaign for Union County Board of Commissioners At-large seat is his first entry into politics.

Candidate website

Brian was first elected to the Union County Board of Commissioners in 2022.

Supports attracting commercial and industrial development to balance residential growth and approved a $4.8 million incentive package for a $200 million advanced manufacturing facility.

- Helms supports limited government.
- Supports attracting commercial and industrial development to balance residential growth and approved a $4.8 million incentive package for a $200 million advanced manufacturing facility.

Economy

Voted to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO), a law enforcement officer assigned to schools, for every one of the 53 schools in Union County Public Schools.

- Voted to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO), a law enforcement officer assigned to schools, for every one of the 53 schools in Union County Public Schools.

Public Services

As of January 2, 2026, Brian W. Helms’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Housing & Urban Development

Voted to expand the Sheriff's Office with Union County's first on-site crime lab and increase deputy sheriff salaries by 6% in 2025.

- Voted to expand the Sheriff's Office with Union County's first on-site crime lab and increase deputy sheriff salaries by 6% in 2025.

Public Safety

Transportation & Infrastructure

Created a land preservation program dedicating nearly $1 million to help landowners permanently protect farmland from development.

- Created a land preservation program dedicating nearly $1 million to help landowners permanently protect farmland from development.

Energy & the Environment

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Brian W. Helms

Helms is a Piedmont high school graduate and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has two children. 

He has worked in manufacturing for over 25 years. 

Helms served as a member of the Union County Board of Commissioners in 2022. 

As of January 2, 2026, Brian W. Helms did not have a website or any information online.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Elizabeth is an information technology professional. She works at the City of Charlotte in its IT department. She previously held leadership roles at a large health care system.

Union County candidates emerge in the 2026 election | Ucweekly ...

Elizabeth Lee's campaign for Union County Commissioner is her first entry into politics.

Elizabeth Lee (REP) has filed for Union County Board of ...

As of January 2, 2026, Elizabeth Lee did not have a website or any information online.

Elizabeth Lee

As of January 2, 2026, Elizabeth Lee’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Melissa Merrell is originally from Mecklenburg County. She earned a bachelors' degree in architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She lives with her husband, Rob, and their two sons in Union County and attends First Baptist Church Indian Trail.

Melissa currently works as a project manager. She previously worked in site design, project management, research and development, and marketing.

Melissa is currently chair of the Union County Board of Commissioners.

Emerald Woods Water Line Project Now Complete • Indian Trail, NC

Melissa is currently chair of the Union County Board of Commissioners. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. Melissa previously served as a member of the Union County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2014 and served two terms.

As of January 2, 2026, Melissa M. Merrell’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports the completion of the Emerald Woods Water Line Project to connect the neighborhood to the Union County Water system, enhancing water service for residents previously reliant on wells.

Supports the completion of the Emerald Woods Water Line Project to connect the Emerald Woods neighborhood to the Union County Water system, improving water service for residents previously reliant on wells.

- Supports the completion of the Emerald Woods Water Line Project to connect the Emerald Woods neighborhood to the Union County Water system, improving water service for residents previously reliant on wells.

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Melissa M. Merrell

Melissa is originally from Mecklenburg County. She earned a bachelors' degree in architecture from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She lives with her husband, Rob, and their 2 sons in Union County and attend First Baptist Church Indian Trail, where Rob teaches high school boys each Sunday.

Melissa M. Merrell is currently chair of the Union County Board of Commissioners. She was first elected in 2022 and is serving her first term. Melissa previously served as a member of the Union County Board of Education. She was first elected in 2014 and served two terms.

- She supports the completion of the Emerald Woods Water Line Project to connect the Emerald Woods neighborhood to the Union County Water system, improving water service for residents previously reliant on wells.

Patrick Tyson is from Monroe, North Carolina. He graduated from Sun Valley High School.

Patrick is a business owner. He owns and operates Victory Builders of America, Inc. He previously owned and taught at U.S. Trade Schools for nearly 30 years. He also served in the U.S. military.

Patrick previously ran for Union County Commissioner in 2026 but did not win.

Supports "responsible growth" in Union County.

- Supports "responsible growth" in Union County.

As of January 2, 2026, Patrick Tyson’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Supports improving local infrastructure

Patrick Tyson

Patrick is originally from Monroe, North Carolina.

- Supports opportunities for residents to live and work in their community.

- Supports strengthening local infrastructure

Patrick's hometown is Monroe. He has a wife and kids. 

Patrick owns a residential construction business that specializes in custom homes. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1989 to 1998.

Patrick is a marriage minister and owns a residential construction business that specializes in custom homes. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1989 to 1998.

Patrick previously ran for Union County commissioner in 2022 but did not win.

Supports opportunities for residents to live and work in their community.

Soil & Water Conservation | Union County, NC

Sam Harris graduated from the University of North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in Horticulture Science. 

Sam currently works for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture as a plant pest specialist.

Sam Harris is currently a member of the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

Sam is currently a member of the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

2026 primary election: Union County commissioner candidate answers questions about top issues

Prioritizes slowing down high density residential development and encouraging commercial and industry growth to address tax imbalances.

- Prioritizes slowing down high density residential development and encouraging commercial and industry growth to address tax imbalances.

Plans to support public safety and law enforcement.

- Plans to support public safety and law enforcement.

Believes the population is growing too quickly and wants to limit high density residential developments where road infrastructure is inadequate.

Supports building the planned and approved houses and apartments in Union County to address affordability.

- Believes the population is growing too quickly and wants to limit high density residential developments where road infrastructure is inadequate.
- Supports building the planned and approved houses and apartments in Union County to address affordability.

As of January 2, 2026, Sam Harris did not have a website or any information online.

Sam Harris

Harris graduated from the University of North Carolina State University with a degree in Horticulture Science and a minor in Agriculture Business Management. 

Harris currently works for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. 

As of January 2, 2026, Sam Harris’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Owns a residential construction business that specializes in custom homes.

Linkedin

Wyatt Dunn is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in community and regional planning from Appalachian State University.

Wyatt works as a key account manager at Superior Industrial Solutions. He previously worked in sales.

Wyatt Dunn is currently mayor of Stallings.

Confusion continues on Mecklenburg County, Union County line ...

Union County Weekly's Post

Wyatt Dunn served as mayor of Stallings from 2013 through 2025.

As of January 2, 2026, Wyatt Dunn did not have a website or any information online.

Opposes changing county lines, arguing it was already resolved in 2001.

Wyatt Dunn

As of January 2, 2026, Wyatt Dunn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.

Union County Commissioner, Republican Primary

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Union County Commissioner, Republican Primary

Election results

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