Montgomery leads Taylor in NC House District 51; Democrats flip Lee County Board

With all 14 precincts reporting in North Carolina’s House District 51, unaffiliated candidate April Montgomery held a 13,919-to-13,537 lead over Republican Charles Taylor — a margin of just 382 votes, or 50.7 percent to 49.3 percent — according to results The Rant reported Tuesday night. The razor-thin margin puts Montgomery on track to replace Republican Rep. John Sauls, who did not seek re-election in 2026, though the results remain unofficial until county elections officials complete their canvasses.

The race for House District 51, which covers all of Lee County and part of Moore County, split cleanly along county lines even as Montgomery carried the district overall. Montgomery won Lee County 11,320 to 8,881, while Taylor, a member of the Sanford City Council, carried the Moore County portion 4,656 to 2,599.

Montgomery framed the victory as a mandate for a different style of politics.

Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting – October 19, 2026

“I got into this race because I believed we needed something different in our politics,” Montgomery told The Rant Tuesday night. “Tonight, we showed that the people of Lee and Moore County agreed with us. We need more leaders who are beholden to the people they serve more than a political party. I look forward to serving the people of this district and I thank everyone who came together in this effort.”

Democrats Seize Control of Lee County Board

The House race was not the only close contest Tuesday. In the District 4 race for the Lee County Board of Commissioners, Democrat Jamey Laudate defeated incumbent Republican Eric Davidson 4,026 votes to 2,763 — 59.3 percent — giving Democrats control of the board for the first time in several years. Laudate, a former member of the Lee County Board of Education, will join Democrat Robert Reives and at-large commissioners Mark Lovick and Cameron Sharpe to form a new 4-3 Democratic majority.

“From the beginning of this campaign, I was confident in my vision of Building Lee County for the Next Generation – with a focus on responsible growth, strong jobs, and great schools – because it was really OUR vision all along,” Laudate said in a statement. “This vision is formed and shaped from conversations I’ve had across this county with all of you. The results tonight are a validation of that vision that we share. This election is behind us, and the work ahead belongs to all of us. I’m excited to get started, partner with all sitting commissioners, the county manager, and county staff, and help shape Lee County’s future.”

Elsewhere on the county board, Democrat Robert Reives cruised to re-election in District 1, defeating Republican challenger Louis Williams with 77 percent of the vote. In District 2, Republican Kirk Smith turned back unaffiliated write-in challenger Jonathan Boyce with 57 percent, while Republican Andre Knecht ran unchallenged in District 3.

Democrats flipped a House seat in deep-red western North Carolina

School Board Returns a Familiar Face

Voters also decided three seats on the Lee County Board of Education, where the only Democrat on the ballot finished comfortably ahead of a crowded field. Former board member Patrick Kelly will return to the board after winning 12,403 votes. Republicans Laura Styffeler and Alan Rummel finished second and third with 10,059 and 9,545 votes, respectively, edging out Republican Karla Koballa, who finished fourth with 9,473 votes — just 72 shy of Rummel. The top three vote-getters in the school board race won the available seats.

The unofficial returns set the stage for a busy canvass period, when county elections officials will verify the totals before the results become official.

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