Orange County voters chose new members for the Board of County Commissioners in Tuesday’s election while keeping incumbents in congressional, legislative, judicial and law enforcement offices. Democrats Karen Stegman and Beth Bronson won their first commission terms, and Rani Dasi secured her first full term after joining the board in August. The election results remain unofficial pending certification.
Turnout reached 72,340 voters, compared with 66,669 in the November 2022 election. With most local contests unopposed, races higher on the ballot helped bring voters out. Orange County strongly backed former Gov. Roy Cooper’s successful U.S. Senate campaign and Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls’s reelection, along with three Democratic candidates for the state Court of Appeals. County voters rejected all three proposed constitutional amendments, although each passed statewide.
Stegman captured the at-large commission seat with 81.5% of the vote against Republican Jeffrey Hoagland. A nonprofit strategy and development consultant, she previously served two terms on the Chapel Hill Town Council. Her priorities include expanding housing choices and addressing inequities in property valuations. She will succeed Sally Greene, who chose not to seek reelection after eight years as a commissioner.
In District 2, Bronson defeated Republican Louis D. Capitanio with 82% of the vote. The Duke clinical health researcher previously served as vice chair of Orange County’s board of adjustment and planning board. Her campaign emphasized natural resource protection, planning informed by data and broader community participation. Running for elected office for the first time, Bronson had defeated longtime commissioner Earl McKee by 25 votes in the March Democratic primary.
Dasi faced no opposition in District 1. Local Democrats selected her to replace Jamezetta Bedford on the ballot after Bedford died in June, following her March primary victory. Dasi was sworn in during August to complete Bedford’s term. Before joining the commission, Dasi served on the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education beginning in 2015. She is RTI International’s vice president of operations and finance.
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee won a third term in the 4th Congressional District, receiving 79% of votes against Republican Mahesh Ganorkar and Libertarian Guy Meilleur. Her campaign priorities included voting rights, limits on ICE’s power and healthcare access. The district covers Durham and Orange counties, northern Chatham County and western Wake County. In state House District 50, Rep. Renée Price secured an uncontested third term representing Caswell County and part of Orange County.
Several courthouse incumbents also won additional terms. Democrat Mark Kleinschmidt was unopposed for a third term as clerk of superior court. District Court Judge Todd Roper, also a Democrat, won his second full term without primary or general election opposition. Democratic District Attorney Jeff Nieman secured a second term leading the office that handles criminal cases in Orange and Chatham counties.
Sheriff Charles Blackwood won a fourth term after running unopposed in the general election. The Democrat had defeated David LaBarre in the primary with about 58% of the vote. Amy McLamb, who has more than 15 years of experience in the Register of Deeds office, won the office’s top position without general election opposition. She succeeds Mark Chilton, who retired.
On the Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, W. Chris Hogan and Richal Vanhook retained their seats against challenger Kane Foreman. Hogan, a former dairy farmer, has served for about two decades. Vanhook joined the board through the 2022 election and has also served on the Piedmont Electric Board of Directors.
