CLICK HERE for a printable PDF copy of the recommendations.
Voter registration ended, but you can still register and vote early on the same day during the early voting period!
Candidate recommendations versus evaluations: Below are recommendations for effective voting strategies by the Grass Roots North Carolina Political Victory Fund. Candidate recommendations, which are more limited than blanket “endorsements,” are not made in all races, only in races where a clear pro-gun candidate stands out or where strategic voting is necessary to keep anti-gun candidates out of office. Note that in most cases, even pro-gun candidates are not included unless they have a primary election challenger.
Recommendations differ from GRNC candidate evaluations. While the evaluations are intended to provide an objective measure of where candidates stand on Second Amendment issues, GRNC–PVF recommendations are analytical and therefore subject to interpretation.
Note: As an addition to the instructions for the 2024 GRNC Remember in November voter guide and accompanying candidate evaluations, the increased numbers of parties on the ballot now require a legend to identify party abbreviations: In addition to the usual “R” (Republican) and “D” (Democrat), “C” is Constitution Party, “G” is Green Party, “L” is Libertarian Party, “J” is Justice for All Party, and “W” is We the People Party.
For a full listing and explanation of GRNC’s objective star evaluations, go to:
Important notes:
- Candidates who lack voting records or other history on Second Amendment issues and who fail to return GRNC’s candidate survey automatically receive a 0-star evaluation on the assumption that they are hiding their position from gun voters. Every election year, we receive complaints about ostensibly pro-gun candidates who receive zero star evaluations due to failure to return the survey. Each candidate is mailed a survey to the address he or she registered with the State Board of Elections. If they fail to return the survey, we cannot help candidates who will not help themselves.
- GRNC-PVF candidate recommendations are NOT blanket endorsements. We have analyzed roughly 200 races across the state. Unless otherwise stipulated, GRNC does not evaluate candidates on issues other than support for the Second Amendment. A GRNC-PVF recommendation does NOT reflect the candidate’s stance on other issues, and it does not reflect likelihood of winning a given race. The recommendation is merely our estimate of which candidate in a given race is most pro-gun.
- GRNC-PVF candidate recommendations are not given in all races. They are given only for races in which there are clear differences between the Second Amendment stances of candidates and are generally not provided for races in which a candidate is unopposed.
- Candidate evaluation listings: After each candidate’s name, his or her voting record (if applicable) or survey score is placed in parentheses along with their GRNC star evaluation (e.g. ****). “NR” indicates the candidate refused to return GRNC’s survey. Survey scores and voting records are expressed in percent (e.g. “survey: 92” is a survey score of 92%). If the candidate lacks a voting record, he or she gets a 0-star evaluation on the presumption that they are hiding their position.
- Recommended candidates: Recommended candidates’ names are printed in bold, upper case font (e.g. JOE SMITH).
- Vote all races: Although some races might appear to be unrelated to 2nd Amendment interests, you should vote against anti-2A candidates in order to stunt their political careers, regardless of the race.
- GRNC recommends that you vote early: Use absentee ballots if you must, but the optimal voting strategy is in-person early voting as described below.
HAVE YOU MOVED RECENTLY? (Or not voted recently?)
NC just removed 750,000 voters from its rolls. Does that include you? Check your voter registration at:
https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/
Primary Election deadlines
- February 6 (5 PM): Deadline for voter registration or to update registration (e.g. for an address change). Click here for details. To check your voter registration, click here. Note: If you are registered as “unaffiliated,” you may vote in either the Democrat or Republican primary election.
- February 12: Primary election One Stop Early Voting begins. Click here for details. Click here to find your One Stop Early Voting place. Using in-person early voting, you may still register and vote simultaneously until February 28 at 3:00 PM.
- February 17 at 5:00 PM: Last day to submit an absentee ballot request form. Click here for information on voting by mail.
- February 28 at 3:00 PM: One Stop Early Voting ends. This is your last opportunity to use One Stop in-person early registration and voting.
- March 3, 2026, 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM: Primary Election Day: Click here to find your polling place on Election Day. Absentee ballots must be received by 7:30 PM.
GRNC-PVF CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATIONS