Lonnie Israel wins Buncombe County Commission District 2 Democratic primary

Unofficial election-night results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections show Lonnie Israel won the Democratic primary for Buncombe County Board of Commissioners District 2, receiving 5,697 votes to Terry Threadwell’s 4,171. The totals were reported on March 3, 2026 as election-night returns for the seat that covers southwest, northwest and northeast parts of Buncombe County.

The vote share is presented variously as 57.7% or 57.73% for Israel and about 42.3% for Threadwell; those differences stem from rounding in election-night tables while the raw vote totals remain consistent. Election officials have described the numbers as unofficial pending certification by the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Israel, 74 and retired, will face Republican Greg Parks in the November general election for the District 2 seat. Countywide context from the same election-night result pages shows District 1’s Democrat Anna Stearns is headed toward a November matchup with Rob Stetson, while District 3 incumbent Al Whitesides was listed as running uncontested.

Israel’s biography in election materials lists him as a lifelong Buncombe County resident who co‑owned Jesse Israel & Sons Nursery for 38 years and lives on his family’s seventh‑generation farm in Candler. He serves on the board of directors of the Hominy Fire Department, is described as an outdoorsman and fly fisherman, and works as a guide for veterans with post‑traumatic stress disorder. Ahead of Election Day Israel listed the continuation of Tropical Storm Helene, emergency preparedness, and safe and affordable communities among his top priorities.

“I love Buncombe County and I love the people. I do. And I will work hard to serve and be someone you can count on. I’ll be dedicated.” Israel’s statement accompanies the biographical and priority details published with the election-night returns.

Other contests reported alongside the District 2 returns included statewide and regional primary results: Court of Appeals listings showed Michael Byrne with 300,883 votes to Matt Smith’s 282,853 in one seat and Christine Walczyk with 491,188 votes to James Whalen’s 296,590 in another; the District Attorney District 40 primary showed Martin Moore with 16,156 votes, Courtney Booth with 14,815 and Katie Kurdys with 10,147; local law enforcement tables listed Gary Parris with 7,954 votes and Vic Morman with 2,669 in a county sheriff listing.

These are election-night, unofficial returns reported on March 3, 2026; final, certified results await official canvass and certification by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Israel’s primary win positions him to pivot to the November campaign against Greg Parks for a seat representing the southwest, northwest and northeast sections of Buncombe County.