Hoke County will be seeing a slight shift in some of its local representation following the results of the 2024 general election, as two incumbents, one on each of the Board of Education and Board of Commissioners, lost their seats although each does remain in the hands of Democrats.
The Hoke County Board of Education had two open seats up for grabs amongst a crowded pool of 10 candidates, and in the end, only one incumbent managed to secure reelection.
Vice chair Rosa McAllister-McRae received the most votes, garnering 6,172 votes or 17.67% of the vote.
McAllister-McRae will be serving a fifth term on the Board of Education, having first been elected in 2004.
Jessica Hendrix Brown, the publisher of the News-Journal, won the second up-for-grabs seat, collecting 5,645 votes or 16.16% of the vote.
Incumbent Keisha Gill finished fourth in voting, garnering 4,966 votes.
McAllister-McRae and Gill were the top vote getters in the 2020 election with the former securing 11,164 or 34.62% and the latter securing 9,593 or 29.74% of the vote.
The Hoke County Board of Commissioners also had two open seats, with an incumbent securing one and a newcomer securing the second.
Current board chair James Leach won reelection to a ninth term on the board with 9,272 votes or 26.06% and newcomer Mary Blue McCollum won a seat on the board with 9,489 votes or 26.67%.
Leach has been a member of the Hoke County Board of Education for 32 years and was the top vote getter in 2020 as well, receiving 9,115 or 25.12%.
McCollum is another Hoke County native and one who has experience in banking and accounting and also served on the Hoke County Chamber of Commerce.
Current commissioner Bobby Wright, who was nominated to serve on the board following the death of Commissioner Lonnie Baldwin, did not move past the democratic primaries and was not on the general election ballot.
Finally, both Gary Hendrix, who ran for Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, and Elaine Brayboy, who ran for Register of Deeds, won as neither was opposed on the ballot.
