The May 8 primary is history, but what is next in the 2018 election cycle in Beaufort County?

The primary winners move on to the Nov. 6 general election. That means Beaufort County Commissioner Jerry Langley, a Democrat, and Keith Kidwell, a Chocowinity resident and former chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party, take on each other to represent District 79 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. The district includes all of Beaufort County and 12 precincts in the northern part of Craven County.

Incumbent Sheriff Ernie Coleman, a Republican, and Democratic challenger Al Whitney will face each other in the general election, as they did in 2014.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones, who survived challenges by Phil Law and Scott Dacey in the Republican primary to choose that party’s nominee to represent the state’s 3^rd Congressional District, faces no opposition in the general election.

Three seats on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners are available this election cycle. Two Democrats — Randy Walker and incumbent Ed Booth — and three Republicans — incumbent Frankie Waters, Stan Deatherage, a former commissioner, and Tandy Dunn — are board candidates.

Clerk of Court Marty Paramore, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. He is unopposed.

2^nd Judicial District Attorney Seth Edwards faces no opposition in his re-election bid.

Beaufort County resident C. “Chuck” Earley Jr., a Republican, is seeking to represent District 3 in the North Carolina Senate, a position currently held by Erica D Smith, a Democrat from Henrico. Smith is seeking re-election.

In the nonpartisan Beaufort County Board of Education contest, incumbents E.C. Peed, District 2; Terry Williams, District 4; Michael Bilbro, District 6; and Butch Oliver, District 8, are seeking re-election. They are unopposed.

Two seats on the three-member Beaufort County Soil and Water Conservation Board are available this election cycle. The filing period for the election runs from June 11 to July 6.

The filing period for superior and district court candidates begins at noon June 18 and ends at noon June 29. This year, judicial candidates may file as unaffiliated without having to qualify through the petition process.

The Superior Court (2^nd Judicial District) seat held by Judge Wayland Sermons Jr. is available this election cycle, as are two of the four District Court judgeships in the 2^nd Judicial District. Superior Court judges serve eight-year terms. District Court judges serve four-year terms.

Candidates for available seats on the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals will file during the June 18-29 filing period.