2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

North Carolina House District 48

2 candidates, listed alphabetically.

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Candidates

Ralph Carter

Republican

Work: Orthopedic surgeon (Scotland County); military veteran

Ralph Carter is an orthopedic surgeon who has lived in Scotland County for 35 years and is a military veteran; he earned his medical degree at Wake Forest's Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Ralph Carter ran for House District 48 in 2024.

Sources for Carter

Ralph Carter candidate profile (Branch, Facts summarized from a public page (not copied))

Garland E. Pierce

DemocraticIncumbent

In office now: State Representative, District 48

Garland E. Pierce is the sitting State Representative for District 48 in the North Carolina General Assembly, a district that includes all or part of Hoke and Scotland counties; the member page lists 11 terms in the House. Official legislature records list the occupation as Baptist Minister.

Pierce's committees

Appropriations
Appropriations, Justice and Public Safety
Commerce and Economic Development
Energy and Public Utilities
Federal Relations and American Indian Affairs
Health
Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs
House Select Committee on Government Efficiency
House Select Committee on Helene Recovery
Insurance
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety
Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Economic Development and Global Engagement Oversight Committee
Joint Legislative Emergency Management Oversight Committee

Sources for Pierce

Garland E. Pierce: official member information (North Carolina General Assembly, Public record)
North Carolina General Assembly: committee information (North Carolina General Assembly, Public record)
North Carolina General Assembly: current member roster (North Carolina General Assembly, Public record)

Sources

Candidate list and race details

Candidate List Grouped by Contest, 11/03/2026 general election (federal and state) (North Carolina State Board of Elections, Public record)

What's included: U.S. Senate and House, statewide offices, every state legislative district on the ballot and statewide ballot measures.
Everything else: Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: vt.ncsbe.gov.
Candidate lists: As of Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.