Pam Escobar, Mishell Williams and Courtney Steinberg led the initial unofficial returns for three seats on the Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
As of 8:21 p.m. Eastern, the N.C. State Board of Elections reported 28,224 votes for Escobar, 27,963 for Williams and 25,847 for Steinberg. Robert Kirk had 17,542 votes, William L. Barbee had 16,733 and Bubba Hartsell had 16,216.
The totals included early voting and absentee-by-mail ballots. No Election Day votes were listed, and the page showed 0 of 35 precincts reporting. The standings were preliminary; the available returns did not establish winners.
Unofficial results
Candidate | Party | Votes | Share of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
Pam Escobar | Dem. | 28,224 | 21.30% |
Mishell Williams | Dem. | 27,963 | 21.10% |
Courtney Steinberg | Dem. | 25,847 | 19.50% |
Robert Kirk | Rep. | 17,542 | 13.24% |
William L. Barbee | Rep. | 16,733 | 12.63% |
Bubba Hartsell | Rep. | 16,216 | 12.24% |
Results checked: 8:21 p.m. Eastern, Nov. 3, 2026. Precincts reporting: 0 of 35. Source: N.C. State Board of Elections.
Voters could select up to three candidates. Percentages are the state board's reported shares of candidate votes, not the percentage of voters who supported each candidate. Percentages may not total exactly 100% because of rounding.
Three seats on the ballot
Six candidates are competing for three four-year terms, according to the county's 2026 candidate qualifications document. Escobar, Steinberg and Williams are Democrats; Barbee, Hartsell and Kirk are Republicans.
The release of North Carolina results was delayed until at least 8:15 p.m. after voting hours were extended at some polling places elsewhere in the state, The Assembly reported. The initial absence of posted returns did not mean no ballots had been counted.
The Cabarrus County Board of Elections directs voters to the state results site for updates. Election-night results are unofficial and subject to verification and certification.
