Moore County Elects Three State House Representatives
Voters chose Ben Moss, Neal Jackson and April Montgomery for Moore County's three North Carolina House districts, with one race eligible for a recount.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Neal Jackson defeated Matt Holway 24,521 to 11,430 in House District 78, Ben Moss won a third term over Joe Parfitt 15,889 to 14,841 in House District 51, and April Montgomery edged Republican Charles Taylor 13,919 to 13,537 to fill the seat formerly held by Rep. John Sauls. Results are complete but unofficial.
Why it matters
The results determine who represents Moore County and surrounding areas in the North Carolina General Assembly. Because Montgomery's margin falls within the 1 percent threshold, a candidate may request a recount under state law, which could affect the final outcome for the area's representation.
Jackson won House District 78 with 24,521 votes to Holway's 11,430 and 62 percent of the Moore County vote. Montgomery's margin of 382 votes over Taylor is under the 1 percent threshold that allows a recount request, and the official canvass has not been completed.
The players
Neal Jackson
Jackson is a North Carolina state representative who was selected as one of three senior chairs of the House Finance Committee and serves as senior pastor at Beulah Baptist Church in Bennett.
April Montgomery
Montgomery is a Democratic candidate who won the House seat formerly held by Rep. John Sauls, defeating Republican Charles Taylor by a narrow margin.
Ben Moss
Moss is a North Carolina state representative who won a third term representing House District 51, which covers Richmond County and southern Moore County.
The details
Moore County voters elected Jackson, Moss and Montgomery to the three contested state House seats. Montgomery's race against Taylor was close enough to qualify for a possible recount, while Taylor received about 2,000 more votes than Montgomery across four Moore County precincts. Montgomery won Lee County with 56 percent of the vote.
Timeline
Jackson first won election to the General Assembly in 2022.
The midterm election was held and results were reported on November 3, 2026.
Political Context
Taylor's campaign and Republican supporters have not yet publicly contested the result, but his lead in four Moore County precincts shows the race was competitive across the county. Under state law, the 1 percent recount threshold provides the formal mechanism for challenging a result this close.
Voters in House Districts 51 and 78 will be represented by Moss and Jackson in the General Assembly, while the Montgomery-Taylor outcome may change if a recount is requested. Residents can check official county results as the canvass is finalized.
The takeaway
Close margins in state legislative races can hinge on a few thousand votes, so the final canvass and any recount requests will determine the official result for Moore County's representation.
What happens next
If a recount is requested in the Montgomery-Taylor race, the state would conduct it under North Carolina statutes; no date has been set.
Further reading
Explore more North Carolina elections coverage for context on how state House races are decided.
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