Joseph is from Thomasville, North Carolina.

Filing complete, Local elections heat up — DavidsonLocal.com

Joseph Byrne lives in Thomasville, North Carolina.

Joseph Byrne's campaign for North Carolina State Representative, District 80, is his first entry into politics.

Joseph Byrne (North Carolina) - Ballotpedia

Joseph's campaign for North Carolina State Representative, District 80, is his first entry into politics. 

As of January 2, 2026, Joseph Byrne’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Energy & the Environment

Healthcare

Joe Byrne Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits

Supports congressional term limits and the use of an Article V convention to enact them.

- Supports congressional term limits and the use of an Article V convention to enact them.

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Joseph Byrne

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Buket Urgen

Sam is a pipe layer. He has been digging ditches and laying pipe all over Davidson County for 40 years.

North Carolina House District 80 Republicans fight for open seat

Sam Watford - Ballotpedia

Sam Watford is a waterline and underground utility contractor by trade.

Watford currently serves as the state representative for District 80. He was first elected in 2014.

As of January 2, 2026, Sam Watford’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports various pledges related to voting and elections.

Supports limiting the number of terms a state legislator may serve.

- Supports limiting the number of terms a state legislator may serve.

Sam Watford

Sam Watford a native of Thomasville, North Carolina, Watford graduated from East Davidson High School in 1971. He attended Western Carolina University and Guilford Technical Institute. He is married to Karen Hege Watford, a retired teacher and current Davidson County Commissioner; they have two daughters. Watford is a member of the Oasis Shriners and several aviation organizations, including the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Watford is a waterline and underground utility contractor by trade. He has professional experience as an employee of the Watford Construction Company. Additionally, he serves as a Sunday school teacher at Liberty Baptist Church.

Watford was first elected to the North Carolina House in 2014 and served from 2015 to 2019. After a brief hiatus, he returned to the House in 2021 and has served since. Before his state-level service, he served three terms as a Davidson County Commissioner and was a member of the Davidson County Planning and Zoning Board.

- He holds several leadership roles in this area, including serving as a member of the Environmental Review Commission and the Energy and Public Utilities Committee.

- He has a record of supporting restrictive abortion regulations, having voted for HB 465 in 2015.

- Watford has signed the U.S. Term Limits pledge, indicating support for limiting the number of terms a state legislator may serve.

- Your State Representative participates in the legislative process at the state level. They are one of 129 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The North Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the North Carolina General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body).
- Your State Representative drafts laws, approves budgets, has oversight of the state executive branch, and debates and votes on proposed laws.
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your State Representative can serve on committees. This is important because many bills can be stalled in committee, preventing them making it to a vote.
- Your State Representative is responsible for representing your interests. They also are responsible for helping you navigate the state's services and bringing back resources to your district.
- State Representatives are elected to a 2-year term. There is no term limit.

Your representative and state lawmaker in North Carolina House of Representatives.

North Carolina State Representative, District 80, Republican Primary

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