Buncombe Elections Board Clears Candidates for Ballot

Challenges against Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley and GOP sheriff's candidate dismissed

Feb. 8, 2026 at 8:31pm

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The Buncombe County Board of Elections unanimously denied formal challenges against two local candidates, allowing Asheville Vice Mayor Antanette Mosley to remain on the ballot for re-election to the city council and a GOP sheriff's candidate to continue their campaign.

Why it matters

The decisions by the Buncombe elections board ensure that voters will have a full slate of candidates to choose from in the upcoming local elections, maintaining the democratic process and voter choice.

The details

The board dismissed an allegation that Mosley had missed a filing deadline, as well as a challenge to the GOP sheriff's candidate over party-switching. Both candidates were cleared to remain on the ballot for their respective races.

  • The Buncombe County Board of Elections held hearings on January 20, 2026 to consider the challenges.

The players

Antanette Mosley

Asheville Vice Mayor who was cleared to run for re-election to the Asheville City Council.

Buncombe County Board of Elections

The local elections board that unanimously denied the challenges against the two candidates.

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The takeaway

The Buncombe elections board's decisions uphold the democratic process by ensuring voters have a full slate of candidates to choose from in the upcoming local elections, despite attempts to challenge the eligibility of certain candidates.