Candidates Participated in Forum at UNCW
Legislative and congressional hopefuls discussed key issues ahead of the early voting period.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Elections
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Candidates vying for legislative and congressional seats met at UNCW on Monday night for a moderated forum. The event gave voters a final opportunity to hear policy stances before the upcoming election cycle begins.
Why it matters
The forum provided voters in the Wilmington area with a chance to evaluate candidate priorities as early voting approaches this week. These discussions are intended to help residents make informed decisions before casting their ballots.
Six legislative candidates running to represent New Hanover County and two of the three Seventh District U.S. House candidates participated in the forum. Incumbent Congressman David Rouzer did not attend the event.
The players
David Rouzer
David Rouzer is the incumbent Congressman for the Seventh District who did not attend the candidate forum.
UNCW
UNCW is the Wilmington-based university that served as the venue for the legislative and congressional candidate forum.
The details
Candidates utilized the forum setting to articulate their platforms and respond to moderated questions. Attendees gathered at UNCW to record these responses for use in their final voting decisions.
Timeline
Monday, October 12, 2026: The candidate forum was held at UNCW.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Event videos will be released on the WECT app and website.
Thursday, October 15, 2026: Early voting is scheduled to begin.
November 3, 2026: The general election takes place.
Political Context
This forum follows a standard pattern of candidate engagements held immediately preceding major election deadlines. While such events offer transparency, opposition groups often contend that forums held without all major candidates present limit the opportunity for robust debate.
Residents can access recordings of the candidate responses on the WECT app and website starting Tuesday to help finalize their voting plans. These resources allow voters to review specific candidate positions before early voting officially opens on Thursday.
The takeaway
Voters are encouraged to utilize available candidate forums and recorded materials to prepare for the fast-approaching election dates. Evaluating these public statements is a practical way to align personal priorities with the platforms presented by those seeking office.
What happens next
Early voting for the election is scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 15, 2026. General election voting will take place on November 3, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the upcoming local races in our Elections section.
Live Poll
Do you plan to attend candidate forums to help decide your vote in the upcoming election?
