February 10th roundtable bringing statewide candidates to Franklin County

Two events will allow Franklin County residents to meet and hear from Republican candidates at the federal, state and local level as they prepare for the May 19, 2026 primary election.

The Republican Women of Franklin County (RWFC) are  sponsoring ‘Candidate Roundtables’ on Tuesday, February 10th and  Tuesday, April 14th. The roundtables will take place at the Frog Pond Community Center, 5680 County Road 22 in Spruce Pine. Each event will begin at 6 pm, and both are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

RWFC President Denel Wardell said although her organization is hosting the event, it will not be endorsing candidates in the May Republican Primary.

A Tufts University 2020 study concluded that voters who are encouraged to vote and are familiar with candidates are twice as likely to participate in elections over those who are unfamiliar with candidates or issues.

All Republican candidates appearing on statewide Republican ballots, both federal and state, and all Franklin County Republican candidates were invited to attend one or both of the roundtables, although candidates will only speak at one event.

Collectively for both events, Wardell has received confirmations from two United States Senate candidates, one U.S. House of Representatives candidate, three Lieutenant Governor candidate, one Attorney General candidate, one Secretary of State candidate and one State Auditor candidate, along with three Franklin County Commission candidates and one Franklin County Sheriff candidate. The local candidates are not expected to speak at the February 10th roundtable, as they will return in April to speak, but several have committed to attend.

Candidates scheduled to speak February 10th include Seth Burton and Rodney Walker (U.S. Senate), Tommy Barnes (U. S. House District Four), Pat Bishop and Rick Pate (Lieutenant Governor), Derek Chan (State Auditor).

April 14th commitments include Dale Shelton Deas Jr. and Morgan Murphy (U.S. Senate), Nicole Jones Wadsworth (Lt. Governor), Katherine Robertson (Attorney General), Glenda Jackson (Secretary of State), Jeremy Oden (Public Service Commission Place One), Priscilla Andrews (Public Service Commission Place Two), Joey Norton, Miles Gaston, Curtis Baker and Jeff Fleming (Franklin County Commission District One) and Shannon Oliver (Franklin County Sheriff). 

Wardell said she’s heard from three additional local candidates ‘hoping to attend,’ but does not have a firm commitment yet. State candidates trying to work out their schedules to attend include John Wahl (Lt. Governor), Tommy Tuberville and Ken McFeeters (Governor).

Wardell is hoping that United States Senate candidate Jared Hudson will attend the RWFC’s ‘Honoring Veterans’ Dinner event on May 12th. Hudson is a former United States Navy Seal.

The following candidates have declined to attend either event: Steve Marshall, Barry Moore and Jared Hudson (United States Senate), Andrew Sorrell (State Auditor) and Corey Hill (Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries).

These roundtables will represent the largest gathering of state and federal candidates to attend a Franklin County. While statewide candidates often visit Franklin County, there has never been an event of this magnitude locally.

“We are thrilled with the response so far and we expect to hear from many more candidates in advance of February 10th and the April 14th events,” Wardell said. “We are looking forward to a good turnout from Franklin County voters as well.”