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Kill Devil Hills Today
By the People, for the People
Rawls wins Dare Sheriff's contest, Twiddy, Ross and Nichols also victorious in county primaries
Dare County sees a number of crowded and hard-fought Republican primaries in the March 3 election.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Rodney Rawls prevailed in a four-man field to become the next Dare County Sheriff, while one Dare County Commissioner's seat was won by an incumbent and another captured by a challenger after Primary Election votes were counted on Tuesday, March 3. Despite receiving the most votes in Dare County, NC District 1 Senator Bobby Hanig lost his bid to be the Republican candidate for the newly drawn District 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Why it matters
The Dare County primary results reflect the ongoing political dynamics in the region, with a mix of incumbent victories and new challengers emerging. The race for the Dare County Sheriff's office and the County Commissioner seats are particularly significant, as these officials play a key role in local governance and policy decisions.
The details
In the race to succeed retiring Sheriff Doug Doughtie, Kill Devil Hills Police Sgt. Rodney Rawls, with almost 42% of the vote, defeated Senior Nags Head Police Officer Jimmy Pierce (35%), Chief Deputy Sheriff Jeff Deringer (14%) and the controversial outsider in the contest, Teddy Daniels (9.5%). In the District 1 Dare Commissioner contest, Dare County Board of Education Chair David Twiddy defeated incumbent Commissioner Mike Burrus and retired Judge Edgar Barnes. Incumbent District 2 Commissioner Rob Ross won a decisive victory in his re-election bid, collecting 65% of the vote. Stephen Nichols, Programs Committee Chair for the Dare County Education Foundation, emerged victorious in a three-way battle for the open District 1 seat on the Dare County Board of Education.
- The Primary Election votes were counted on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
The players
Rodney Rawls
A Kill Devil Hills Police Sergeant who won the Dare County Sheriff's race.
David Twiddy
The Dare County Board of Education Chair who won the District 1 Dare Commissioner contest.
Rob Ross
The incumbent District 2 Dare Commissioner who won re-election.
Stephen Nichols
The Programs Committee Chair for the Dare County Education Foundation who won the District 1 seat on the Dare County Board of Education.
Bobby Hanig
The NC District 1 Senator who lost his bid for the Republican nomination for the newly drawn District 1 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What’s next
The general election will be held in November 2026, where the winners of the Republican primaries will face any Democratic challengers.
The takeaway
The Dare County primary results highlight the ongoing political dynamics in the region, with a mix of incumbent victories and new challengers emerging. The race for the Dare County Sheriff's office and the County Commissioner seats are particularly significant, as these officials play a key role in local governance and policy decisions.
