Let the race begin.

Filing closed at 5 p.m. on Friday for the U.S. 3rd Congressional District special election and the field of candidates seeking the seat last held by Walter Jones Jr. is deep and diverse.

A total of 26 candidates have filed to run for the seat — 17 Republicans, six Democrats, two Libertarians and one Constitutional Party candidate. They hail from Jacksonville to Shawboro, and all points in between.

Among those running, 10 are veterans of the U.S. military, three are women, three are African Americans, three are doctors and three are currently serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives. Three of the candidates actually live outside of the district, with their residences in the Piedmont — under Article I, Section II of the U.S. Constitution, they need only be residents of the state and do not have to live in the district they seek to represent.

Some are well established in North Carolina politics, at the state level or locally as mayors and county commissioners. Others are complete newcomers to the political scene who have built careers and connections in the private sector.

Chances are, Beaufort County residents will be hearing from them soon. The first primary election is slated for April 30, with absentee voting starting March 15.

The candidates running include:

 

DR. KEVIN BAIKO

Republican — Moyock

Medical doctor, medical director North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network

 

PAUL MICHAEL BEAUMONT

Republican — Shawboro

U.S. Navy veteran, Currituck County Commissioner

 

 

RICHARD T. BEW

Democrat — Newport

U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant, Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps

 

SAMUEL GRAHAM BOYD

Republican — Wake Forest/Pinetown

Executive vice president, Tobacco Growers Association of North Carolina

 

SHANNON WILSON BRAY

Libertarian — Apex

U.S. Navy veteran, Chief Security Officer ShareSquared, Inc.

 

CELESTE COPPAGE CAIRNS

Republican — Emerald Isle

Certified public accountant

 

GARY CERES

Republican — Greenville

Library technician at East Carolina University, former bookseller at Barnes & Noble

 

CHIMER DAVIS CLARK JR.

Republican — Morehead City

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, electric motor repair specialist

 

DON COX

Republican — Belhaven

Country music artist

 

FRANCIS XAVIER DE LUCA

Republican — Cary/Jacksonville

Retired Marine Corps colonel, former director of Civitas Institute

 

TIM HARRIS

Libertarian — New Bern

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, former N.C. Senate candidate

 

GREG MONROE HOLT

Constitution Party — New Bern

Small business owner at Cravin-a-Cup

 

GREGORY HUMPHRY

Democrat — Beulaville

Retired federal employee, president of Dreadnaught Community Center

 

ISAIAH JOHNSON

Democrat — Jacksonville

Retired Marine Corps major, pastor, former high school JROTC teacher

 

PHIL LAW

Republican — Jacksonville

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, information technology contractor, former candidate for U.S. Congress.

 

DR. GREG MURPHY

Republican — Greenville

Medical doctor, representative for N.C. House District 9

 

JEFFREY KEVIN MOORE II

Republican — Raleigh

Political consultant, writer at firstinfreedomdaily.com

 

MICHELE NIX

Republican — Kinston

Former vice chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, former chairwoman of Lenoir County Republican Party

 

DANA OUTLAW

Democrat — New Bern

Mayor of New Bern since 2013, real estate consulting and appraisal

 

MICHAEL HENRY PAYMENT

Republican — Grandy

Currituck County Commissioner

 

DR. JOAN TEMPLETON PERRY

Republican — Kinston

Pediatrician, adjunct professor of Pediatrics at East Carolina and UNC schools of medicine

 

ERNEST REEVES

Democrat — Greenville

Retired U.S. Army communications officer, former candidate for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, N.C. House and Greenville mayor.

 

ERIC SEAN ROUSE

Republican — Kinston

Lenoir County Commissioner

 

PHIL SHEPARD

Republican — Jacksonville

Retired civil servant, minister, representative of N.C. House District 15

 

MICHAEL SPECIALE

Republican — New Bern

U.S. Marine Corps veteran, representative for N.C. House District 3

 

ALLEN THOMAS

Democrat — Greenville

Former Greenville mayor, executive director of North Carolina Global Transpark