The Orange County
Democratic Party of North Carolina

OCDP will be hosting our first “Open Mic” night at the Sidetrack Bar and Lounge, from 6-9pm, on Dec 17th. Amps, microphones, drums and PA provided, so just bring your instruments, voices, cables to connect to our amps, and we will have all the rest. Contact Lynn McGee for more info: chair@orangedems.com or 336-263-4573

A food truck will be on site. There is no registration or signup required.

Food donations greatly appreciated for our Title 1 School In-House Food Pantry!

Local Offices Up for Election in 2026

NC Senate District 23
NC House District 50
NC House District 56
District Attorney District 18
Orange County Clerk of Superior Court
Orange County Register of Deeds

Orange County Sheriff
OC Board of Commissioners At-Large, 1 seat
OC Board of Commissioners District 1, 1 seat
OC Board of Commissioners District 2, 1 seat
OC Schools Board of Education, 4 seats

Candidate Filing

The candidate filing period for the 2026 Elections began on December 1, 2025 and ends at noon on December 19, 2025. Information about filing for office is located here and a link to the List of Candidates, which is updated each weekday, is located here.

2026 Election Schedule

View the 2026 Election Schedule issued by the Orange County Board of Elections.

Families across North Carolina have been shaken by reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in our communities with little transparency and even less accountability. Masked agents have been approaching residents without identifying themselves, failing to present judicial warrants or appropriately asking for a person’s ID or documentation, and creating an atmosphere of fear, especially among immigrants and people of color who already face disproportionate targeting. Innocent people are being harmed by these agents’ racial profiling.

If you, or someone you know, are vulnerable to immigration enforcement operations, please stay tuned to trusted news sources, know your rights, and have a plan. Additional resources may be found using this link: RESOURCES HERE.

The human impact of these actions cannot be overstated. Children in our own schools are losing sleep, terrified that a family member may be taken in the night. Some students are afraid to ride the bus or walk home. Family members are skipping work, medical appointments, or school events out of fear that simply stepping outside could put them at risk. This is not justice. This is not constitutional. This is not who we are in Orange County, North Carolina, or the United States.

Unfortunately, NC Republicans overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of House Bill 318, which now requires NC sheriffs to work with ICE, although the legislation’s constitutionality is being challenged. Therefore, a transparent policy for how our local law enforcement officials will work with ICE is still needed. At this time, it is important to remember that our local law enforcement is not participating in the planning or carrying out of any federal activities. Yesterday, the Orange County Sheriff and the police chiefs of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough, issued a statement which read in part:

We do not participate in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations and are not included in the planning or carrying out of any federal immigration enforcement activities.

As Democrats, we believe in safe communities built on fairness, accountability, and compassion. We encourage local law enforcement to understand the ramifications of House Bill 318 and to develop a plan which is clearly communicated to the communities on how they plan to comply with the requirements of any new laws passed by the majority-Republican state legislature around federal immigration enforcement. We hope that any such policy will be compliant with everyone’s constitutional rights regardless of skin color, perceived nationality or immigration status.

Let’s work in solidarity to protect our values that make Orange County strong: justice, safety, and respect for every family.

Lynn McGee, Chair, Orange County Democratic Party

Join a Day of Action to protect democracy at the door. Thousands of North Carolinians are on the NC Board of Elections “Registration Repair” list simply because their voter registration is missing a driver’s license number or social security number. If we don’t help them fix it now, they will be required to cast a provisional ballot to vote in next year’s election.

The canvass will provide you with an opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with voters on the Registration Repair list to help clear up confusion and explain the options to repair their registration.

This is a virtual canvass launch with multiple shifts. Register here.

County2County and Neighbors on Call will be hosting a social event at venues across the Triangle to express gratitude to NCGA legislators, candidates, and stalwart county party chairs. Enjoy snacks, drinks and the company of special guests.

Choose from one of our five venues (or join by Zoom). Register here.

Board of Elections Sends Second Round of Registration Repair Letters

On November 24, 2025, the N.C. State Board of Elections announced a second round of Registration Repair letters is being sent to voters whose registration records are missing either a driver’s license number (DL#) or the last four digits of their Social Security number (SSN4), as required by state and federal law. Read more about the second round of Registration Repair Letters here.

N.C. State Board of Elections Agrees to Use SAVE Database to Verify Voters’ Citizenship

On November 24, 2025, the N.C. State Board of Elections announced a second round of The N.C. State Board of Elections voted on November 25, 2025 to enter into an agreement with U.S. Department of Homeland Security to share voter information with DHS’s SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements) database. The database will be used to verify N.C. voters’ citizenship status. Read more at NC Newsline.

Federal Court Allows New Congressional Map to Be Used for 2026 Election

A panel of federal judges ruled on November 26, 2025 that North Carolina’s new congressional map enacted by Session Law 2025-95 can be used for the 2026 elections. The North Carolina NAACP, Common Cause of North Carolina and a group of voters had argued the new map reflects unconstitutional racial discrimination. Read more at NC Newsline.

Listen to Camille Berry and OCDP’s Chair Lynn McGee discuss the Orange County Democratic Party county-wide food drive on WCOM, FM 103.5.