From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. -— An Asheville mayoral race pitting — once again — incumbent Esther Manheimer against City Councilwoman Kim Roney is a highlight among the political races in Asheville and Buncombe County, as filing for North Carolina’s 2026 primary election officially closed at noon Dec. 19.

Since there are only two candidates in the nonpartisan mayoralty race, there will be no primary election in March for it. Instead, both candidates will advance directly to the general election on Nov. 3, 2026.

Also of likely high interest is Vice Mayor Antonette Mosley’s filing for re-election to Asheville City Council — as she is being investigated by the N.C. Board of Elections in an inquiry into her residency filings in both Ashevillle and Atlanta, Ga.

Mosley was among 20 candidates who filed to run for Asheville’s council in which three seats (including Mosley’s) are open. 

The other two incumbents — Maggie Ullman and Sheneika Smith — also are seeking re-election.

Among the newcomers filing to run for Asheville’s council are C.J .Snyder, Dan Ferrell, Jeffrey Burroughs, Kyle Turner, Angel Gonzales, Buncombe County Commissioner Drew Ball, Scott Burroughs, Nina Ireland, Louis David Moritz, Jared Wheatley, Jess Young McLean, former Asheville Councilman Keith Young, Tiffany Debellotte, Bobby Smith Jr., Shaunda Jackson, Tyler Ladd and Ronald Butler.

Meanwhile, six candidates filed for the three seats open on the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.Al Whitesides, facing no opposition in his race for the newly drawn District Three seat (and now representing District One), is the sole incumbent seeking re-election.

The other two commissioners’ seats open are held by Martin Moore, representing District Two and who instead is running for district attorney; and Drew Ball, who represents District Three and who instead is runing for a seat on Asheville City Coumcil. 

The Buncombe commissioners’ candidates, by district, are as follows:

• District One — Anna Stearns, Democrat; and Rob Stetson, Republican. 

• District Two  — Terry Threadwell and Lonnie Israel, both Democrats; and Greg Parks, a Republican. 

• District Three —  Al Whitesides, Democrat.

Among the other Buncombe races and those who filed to run in them are the following:

• Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court —Jean Marie Christy, Democrat. 

• Buncombe County Sheriff — Quentin Miller, Democrat; and  Gary Parris and Vic Norman, Republicans. 

Starting Jan. 12, 2026, county boards of elections will begin sending absentee ballots to voters who requested them for the March 3, 2026 primary election.