After two weeks of candidate filing for 2020 elections, only one local race has enough candidates to constitute a primary election.

With the filing of Tandy Dunn and Hood Richardson this week, there will now be a primary election for Republican county commissioner hopefuls in March. Dunn and Richardson bring the Republican candidate count to five for the board, joining Jerry Evans, John Rebholz and Galen Swain.

Because there are four commissioner seats up for election in 2020, each party can have as many as four candidates on the ballot during the general election, according to Beaufort County Board of Elections Director Kellie Hopkins. Since there are five Republicans now running, a primary election will decide who is on the ticket come November.

Two democratic candidates have filed to run for the board of commissioners so far, incumbent Jerry Langley and newcomer John Carbone. If only one or two Democratic candidates file between now and Friday, there will not be a democratic primary for county commissioner.

In the race for N.C. Senate, two candidates have filed so far. Both are currently serving as county commissioners in their home counties. Democrat Ernestine Byrd Baezmore, of Aulander, filed this week and is currently serving her second term on the Bertie County Board of Commissioners. On the Republican side, Vance County Commissioner Thomas Hester Jr. filed last week to run for the seat.

Also at the state level, Chocowinity is shaping up to be the epicenter of the race for N.C. House District 79, with two candidates calling the town home. While Republican incumbent Keith Kidwell filed to run for reelection on the first day of filing, Democratic challenger Nick Blount threw his hat into the ring Friday. Blount works as a youth leader at the Boys and Girls Club of the Coastal Plain’s Washington Unit.

As of Friday, two candidates had filed to run for positions on the Beaufort County Board of Education, Democrat Eltha Booth in District 1 and Republican T.W. Allen in District 3. No one has yet filed to run in Districts 5, 7 and 9.

Incumbents also remain uncontested in races for two District Court Judge seats, where Democrats Keith Mason and Chris McLendon have both filed for reelection. Republican Register of Deeds candidate Jennifer Whitehurst, likewise, remains unchallenged.

Filing for local offices remains open at the Beaufort County Board of Elections through noon Dec. 20. Those filing for state, national and judicial offices must file in Raleigh at the North Carolina State Board of Elections. For a full, up-to-date listing of candidates who have filed, visit www.ncsbe.gov.