Gaston County commissioner to run again for secretary of state

Chad attended North Greenville University. He is from Gastonia, NC, and attended North Gaston High School. He is a Christian and attends Flint Groves Baptist Church. He has two children.

Chad currently works at the Pennsylvania Steel Company. He transitioned into politics after playing professional baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Chad Brown previously ran in the Republican primary for secretary of state in North Carolina in 2020 but did not win. He previously served 3 terms as a county commissioner. Before that, he was the mayor of Stanley.

Supports investing in small business to help the economy.

Supports decreasing regulations for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

- Supports investing in small business to help the economy.
- Supports decreasing regulations for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Small Businesses

Said he will protect consumers "from fraud and identity theft."

- Said he will protect consumers "from fraud and identity theft."
- Wants to eliminate "wasteful spending"

Economy

As of June 24, 2025, Chad Brown’s website did not contain information on this issue.

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Chad Brown

Elaine Marshall was born in rural Lineboro, Maryland. She earned her bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland and her law degree from Campbell University. Marshall has served as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State and continues to serve on its board of directors. She is a long-time member of 4-H.

Prior to serving as Secretary of State and state senator, her career included working as a teacher in the North Carolina public school system and community colleges, owning a small business, and practicing law as an attorney, where she defended victims of domestic violence and co-founded a Rape Crisis Center.

Elaine Marshall has served as the North Carolina Secretary of State since 1997, after being elected in 1996. She was a member of the North Carolina Senate in 1993-1994. 

News & Observer, NC voter guide

Supports modernizing notary services for businesses with a "Find-A-Notary" search tool and an electronic notary program, enhancing efficiency and security, as detailed on sosnc.gov's Notary section.

Plans to make business formation easier and increase the success rate of NC small businesses.

Plans to make business formation easier through additional resources and updated technology.

Supports the Rural RISE initiative to assist new and existing businesses.

Supports the Rural RISE initiative to assist new and existing businesses and increase the success rate of NC small businesses.

- Supports modernizing notary services for businesses with a "Find-A-Notary" search tool and an electronic notary program, enhancing efficiency and security, as detailed on sosnc.gov's Notary section.
- Plans to make business formation easier through additional resources and updated technology.
- Supports the Rural RISE initiative to assist new and existing businesses and increase the success rate of NC small businesses.

Said, "As Secretary of State, I’ve worked to cut the red tape for entrepreneurs starting companies... and crack down on financial fraud—getting serious jail time for crooks."

Supports protecting trademark holders and prosecuting counterfeiters.

Supports protecting trademark holders and has prosecuted counterfeiters.

- Said, "As Secretary of State, I’ve worked to cut the red tape for entrepreneurs starting companies... and crack down on financial fraud—getting serious jail time for crooks."
- Supports protecting trademark holders and has prosecuted counterfeiters.

Said, "I personally do not believe a partisan elected office holder should have election oversight. The appearance of conflict of interest is always present in such situations. In this toxic, political environment, we need professionals whose primary objective is free and fair elections."

- Said, "I personally do not believe a partisan elected office holder should have election oversight. The appearance of conflict of interest is always present in such situations. In this toxic, political environment, we need professionals whose primary objective is free and fair elections."

Supports reforming North Carolina’s lobbying laws to enhance transparency and accessibility of public information for businesses, investors, and individuals.

Believes cybersecurity is the top priority.

Said, "According to random, periodic surveys, over 90% of our customers are satisfied with our services. ... We use our temp budget fully to meet demand and reassign other staff when possible to keep up with the volume."

To describe customer service under her management, said, "According to random, periodic surveys, over 90% of our customers are satisfied with our services. ... We use our temp budget fully to meet demand and reassign other staff when possible to keep up with the volume."

- Supports reforming North Carolina’s lobbying laws to enhance transparency and accessibility of public information for businesses, investors, and individuals.
- Believes cybersecurity is the top priority.
- To describe customer service under her management, said, "According to random, periodic surveys, over 90% of our customers are satisfied with our services. ... We use our temp budget fully to meet demand and reassign other staff when possible to keep up with the volume."

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Elaine Marshall

- The Secretary of State is the Head of the Department of the State.
- The Secretary of State is responsible for managing much of the record keeping for the state, including managing mortgages belonging to the State and distributing statutes and legislative journals annually.
- The Secretary of State office receives the certification of elections from the State Board of Election. The SOS also organizes all the North Carolina Electoral College meetings, they invite guests and format the agenda. 
- The Secretary of State is in charge of handling annual reports submitted by businesses. All businesses must file an annual report with the SOS or risk their business being closed. This annual report includes information about the businesses organization and financial history of the fiscal year. 
- The Secretary of State is elected for a four-year term. The position has no term limits.

Oversees record keeping and business-related operations of the North Carolina Government

North Carolina Secretary of State

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