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SD-1: Follow the money
Campaign finance in this race · NC State Board of Elections filings, this cycle (2025-26)
Zehner (D) $16K cash$37K cash Tillett (R)
Tillett holds 2.4x the cash on hand. Raised this cycle: Zehner $20K / Tillett $124K.
MZ
Melissa Zehner
Democrat
Through 2026 Q2 · filed Jul 10, 2026
Raised
$20K
Spent
$6K
Cash
$16K
Where it comes from
Individuals 83%Cand. cmtes 5%Party 11%
JT
Jerry Tillett
Republican
Through 2026 Q2 · filed Jul 9, 2026
Raised
$124K
Spent
$87K
Cash
$37K
Where it comes from
Individuals 93%Cand. cmtes 6%Party 0%Other 1%
The details
| Metric | Zehner (D) | Tillett (R) |
|---|---|---|
| Latest filing | 2026 Q2 (Jul 10) | 2026 Q2 (Jul 9) |
| Total raised | $20,021 | $123,859 |
| Total spent | $6,110 | $86,603 |
| Cash on hand | $15,656 | $37,256 |
| Where the money comes from | ||
| Individuals | 83% | 93% |
| PACs | 0% | 0% |
| Candidate committees | 5% | 6% |
| Party | 11% | 0% |
| Small-dollar (<$100) | 12% | 2% |
| Itemized donors | 58 | 140 |
Melissa Zehner (D)
Top 25 of 58 itemized contributors
$3,400Indiv
Jonah Garson
$1,089Cand. cmte
Lisa Grafstein Campaign
reported as in-kind
$1,000Party
Ncdp
reported as in-kind
$1,000Party
Dare County Democratic Party
$1,000Indiv
Timothy Goettel
Attorney · Smith Anderson
$500Indiv
Sheryl Grafstein
Systems Engineer · Truist
$500Indiv
Susan Ipplito
Retired · Retired
$500Indiv
Deborah Karfs
$500Indiv
Ruth Bromer
Retired · Retired
$500Indiv
Monica Thibodeau
Manager · Cdr
$500Indiv
Karen Blose
Attorney
$350Indiv
Lilias Morrison
Business Owner
$250Indiv
Christie Mcewan
$250Indiv
Kathleen Kittrick
Retired · Retired
$250Party
Democratic Women Of Dare
$250Indiv
Thomas Fulcher
$250Indiv
Beverly Clark
Mediator · Self
$250Indiv
Marion Midgett
Retired · Retired
$250Indiv
Anna Elizabeth Morey
$250Indiv
Linda Mcgee
Retired · Retired
$250Indiv
Elizabeth Rohe
Retired · Retired
$250Indiv
Patricia Kobor
Retired · Retired
$200Indiv
Lucie Zehner
Retired · Retired
$200Indiv
Jane Preyer
Retired · Retired
$200Indiv
King Prather
Retired · Retired
Jerry Tillett (R)
Top 25 of 140 itemized contributors
$13,600Indiv
James Jordan Hennessy
Business · Dredge Owner
$10,450Indiv
Carolyn H Bibeau
Real Estate · Carolyn Bibeau Real Estate Sales
$6,800Cand. cmte
Todd Johnson For NC Senate
$4,700Indiv
Christina Williams
Website Designer · Self Employeed
$3,400Indiv
Sarah Dozier
CFO · NC Office Of The State Auditor
$3,400Indiv
Annah A Petty
Real Estate · Surf Or Sound
$3,000Indiv
Rick White
Landlord · White Property Rental
$2,800Indiv
Matthew T Huth
Fisherman · Fresh Catch
$2,500Indiv
Roc P Sansotta
Manager · Realty Office
$2,500Indiv
Robert D Owens
Self Employeed · Self Employeed
$2,500Indiv
Clark Twiddy
Hospitality · Twiddy And Company
$2,300Indiv
Margarette M Umphlett
Retired · Real Estate
$2,000Indiv
Jackie L Hunt
Homemaker · Homemaker
$2,000Indiv
Mark Vrablic
Sales · Etheridge Seafood
$1,500Indiv
Glenn E Futrell
Developer · Property Developer
$1,500Indiv
Lorna S Daniels
Resturant Owner · Darrells
$1,275Indiv
Grace Jones
Teacher · NC Public Schools
$1,125Indiv
Keith Bryan Bass
Travel And Tourism · Currituck Travel And Tourism
$1,000Indiv
Paul Spencer
Boat Sales And Construction · Spencer Yachts
$1,000Indiv
Kym Martin
Homemaker · Homemaker
$1,000Indiv
Linda Mccown
Lawyer · Mccown Law Firm
$1,000Indiv
William D Pitts
Retired · Hardware Store
$1,000Indiv
Rex Simpson
Contractor · Gallop Roofing And Remodeling LLC
$1,000Indiv
Terry Wheeler
Retired · Employee Of Dare County
$1,000Indiv
George Edward Goodrich
Real Estate Agent · Real Estate
Total spent (D / R)
$6K / $87K
Cash on hand
$16K / $37K
Burn rate
30% / 70%
Melissa Zehner (D)
Top payees
$1,295
Vista Print
"walk cards"
$842
Rush Order Tees
"t-shirt order"
$622
Super Cheap Signs
"campaign signs"
$471
Aggregated Non-Media Expense
"transaction fees"
$382
The Park Wholesale
"hats"
$322
Staples
"baseball card promo"
$248
Custom Lanyards
"koozies"
$171
Nags Head Pizza
"food for event"
$157
Publix
"food for pack the pantry event"
$140
Ninja Transfers
"transfer printed"
$113
Sticky Brand
"stickers"
$80
Gate Petroleum
"travel for training"
$62
Usps
no purpose stated
$59
Amazon
"supplies"
$56
Act Blue
"transaction fees"
Jerry Tillett (R)
Top payees
$10,405
Red Maverick Media
"printing of mailers"
$10,360
Vista Print
"postcards"
$8,325
Spectrum Reach
"tv ads"
$6,340
Super Cheap Signs
"yard signs"
$5,631
American Technology Consulting
"text messages"
$3,999
Sinclair Communications
"commercials"
$3,940
Wavy
"tv ads"
$3,553
Nixon's Bbq
"food payment for upcoming fundraizer"
$3,002
Tidewater Communication
"commerical ads"
$3,002
Wnor-fm
"tv commericals"
$2,900
Elite Media Agency
"500 signs"
$2,500
Rye Strategies, LLC
"video ad production"
$2,460
Studio Center
"radio commericals"
$2,362
Facebook
"commerical ads for march"
$2,304
East Carolina Radio
"radio commericals"
$2,116
Nextstar/wnct
"commerical ads"
$1,290
Darrells Resturant
"food for fundraiser"
$1,275
Kaplan Strategies
"text messages"
$1,124
R.o. Givens Signs
"big signs"
$806
Temu
"printing of pens"
$800
Ema
"apparel- hats"
$540
Anedot
"monthly transaction fees"
$520
Endgame Consulting
"campaign consulting"
$300
Laurie Buckhout For Congress
no purpose stated
$280
Professional Printing
"bifold cards"
Source: NC State Board of Elections (cf.ncsbe.gov) · committee disclosure reports
Data as of October 29, 2026 · campaign finance last refreshed August 20, 2026
Report an error
Data as of October 29, 2026 · campaign finance last refreshed August 20, 2026
Report an error