If you’ve ever wondered whether your vote in a primary really matters, this week answered that question.
North Carolina’s primary elections reminded us that engagement doesn’t start in November and it doesn’t end when the General Assembly is out of session. In some cases, huge races come down to just a handful of votes. And in others, it comes down to clear differences on issues that directly impact our farms and rural communities.
Let’s take a look at some of the races of note this week:
Senate District 26 (Berger vs. Page): As of election night, the difference in this race stood at TWO VOTES. That is two people who decided to vote early or take time on Tuesday to stop on their way to or from work. Additional ballots are still being reviewed as part of the normal post-election canvass process, but this race is a classic example of why every single vote counts.
House District 79 (Armstrong vs. Kidwell): Beaufort County farmer Darren Armstrong defeated incumbent Rep. Keith Kidwell by 4.5 percentage points. More on this race below.
House District 4 (Dixon vs. M. Barbour): Rep. Jimmy Dixon secured a strong primary victory.
Senate District 9: (Jackson vs. W. Barbour): Senator Brent Jackson also won decisively.
Senate District 1: (Tillet vs. Lane vs. Forsythe vs. Johnson): Voters ultimately chose Former Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillet for the Republican ticket in Senate District 1, but Jay Lane, a farmer, fought hard for a chance at this seat.
One race that stood out to many in the agriculture community was the Republican primary in House District 79, covering Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, and Pamlico counties, a region where farming is the backbone of the local economy. Beaufort County farmer Darren Armstrong defeated incumbent Rep. Keith Kidwell.
Armstrong operates a family farming operation and has long been active in agricultural leadership, including serving as chairman of the U.S. Grains Council and chair of the Corn Board Association of North Carolina. His campaign emphasized listening to producers and addressing the priorities of farmers in this agriculture-heavy region of eastern North Carolina. He attended several agriculture community events during his lead-up to the March 3 primary and connected directly with the people who sustain our state’s number-one industry.
This race also highlighted clear policy differences around issues important to agriculture. During debate on the 2025 NC Farm Act, Rep. Kidwell stood in sharp opposition to liability protections supported by many farm organizations that would have recognized EPA-approved pesticide labeling as sufficient warning under state law. These protections were part of a broader effort supported by the Trump administration and the farm community to strengthen access to critical supplies such as glyphosate and phosphorus and to provide regulatory certainty for farmers and the companies that supply them.
Policies affecting crop protection tools, the farm supply chain, and liability protections have real life impacts for growers and producers alike. This race was an important reminder that when agriculture speaks with a united voice, the voters take notice.
The public votes for leaders who stand up for agriculture and the needs of our producers, even if it means making a hard vote, and we support them, full-throttle. In this race, voters clearly saw Armstrong as the candidate willing to take the hard stance and rewarded him with the primary win.
Before we wrap up, I also want to share a column published this week in the North State Journal about the Make America Healthy Again conversation and why farmers must stay engaged as these debates move from messaging to policy.
As we saw with the MAHA Commission report and updated dietary guidelines, agriculture speaking with a united voice can make a difference. If you have not had a chance to read it yet, I encourage you to take a look.
Tori Rumenik Executive Director, North Carolina Ag Partnership
