Skip to content
Triangle Local

Sanford, Lee County

Lee County: April Montgomery leads House District 51 in unofficial returns

With all 14 district precincts in, the unaffiliated candidate led Sanford Republican Charles Taylor 13,919 to 13,537. The News & Observer, The Rant and The Pilot also covered the close race. Not certified.

UpdatedThis story has changed since it was first published.

By Alexandru Stanciu · Published

A downtown street in Sanford, N.C.

File photo: Indy beetle (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • Unofficial North Carolina State Board of Elections files for Lee and Moore counties, totaling all 14 N.C. House District 51 precincts, listed unaffiliated candidate April Montgomery with 13,919 votes (50.70%) and Republican Charles M. Taylor with 13,537 votes (49.30%).Confirmed by North Carolina State Board of Elections unofficial Lee County and Moore County results files, accessed Nov. 4, 2026
  • In Lee County alone, the same unofficial file listed Montgomery with 11,320 votes and Taylor with 8,881, with all 10 Lee precincts reporting. In Moore County's portion of the district, Taylor led 4,656 to 2,599 with all 4 Moore precincts reporting.Confirmed by North Carolina State Board of Elections unofficial Lee County and Moore County results files, accessed Nov. 4, 2026
  • The Rant reported the same 13,919–13,537 district totals with all 14 precincts in, wrote that House District 51 covers all of Lee County and part of Moore, and said Taylor is a Sanford City Council member seeking the seat held by Republican Rep. John Sauls, who did not run again.Confirmed by The Rant, Nov. 3, 2026
  • The News & Observer independently reported that Montgomery narrowly led Taylor after all District 51 precincts had reported, that the margin is close enough that a recount could be requested, and that Taylor recently filed a defamation lawsuit over campaign mailers about a gambling business on property he owns.Confirmed by The News & Observer, Nov. 4, 2026
  • The Pilot independently wrote that Montgomery leads Taylor in complete but unofficial results and that the margin is within the state's recount threshold.Confirmed by The Pilot, Nov. 3, 2026

Still unknown

  • Final certified totals after provisional ballots and the county canvasses
  • Whether either candidate will request a recount
  • How any recount or canvass changes would affect the unofficial lead

What this means for you

Instructions from North Carolina State Board of Elections

This site is not an elections office. Unofficial results are on the State Board's election-results site. Certified results come later from the county canvasses. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

What happened

In Lee County, unaffiliated candidate April Montgomery is leading Republican Charles M. Taylor for N.C. House District 51 in unofficial returns after the Nov. 3 election.

Combined unofficial files from the North Carolina State Board of Elections for Lee and Moore counties, covering all 14 district precincts, listed Montgomery with 13,919 votes (50.70%) and Taylor with 13,537 (49.30%). Those figures are not certified.

The Rant reported the same district totals, wrote that the seat covers all of Lee County and part of Moore, and identified Taylor as a Sanford City Council member seeking the open seat of Republican Rep. John Sauls, who did not run again. The News & Observer independently reported Montgomery's narrow lead after every precinct reported and wrote that the margin is close enough that a recount could be requested. The Pilot separately wrote that Montgomery leads in complete but unofficial results and that the margin sits within the state's recount threshold.

Lee County's unofficial file alone had Montgomery ahead 11,320 to 8,881 with all 10 precincts in. Moore County's portion of the district had Taylor ahead 4,656 to 2,599 with all 4 precincts in, matching The Rant's county split.

Certification follows the county canvasses. This site is not an elections office. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Related coverage

Why it matters

House District 51 is the Lee County–Moore County seat left open by Rep. John Sauls. Readers need the unofficial margin and that local outlets flag a possible recount before certification.

Updates

  1. Nov 4, 2026, 6:05 AM

    First file from unofficial NCSBE Lee and Moore House District 51 totals (all 14 precincts) plus The Rant, The News & Observer and The Pilot.

Sources

  1. Lee County unofficial results file (NCSBE enr/20261103/data/results_53.txt: NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 051; April Montgomery UNA 11,320; Charles M. Taylor REP 8,881; 10 of 10 precincts)

    Official sourcePublished by North Carolina State Board of Elections · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 6:12 AM

  2. Moore County unofficial results file (NCSBE enr/20261103/data/results_63.txt: NC HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 051; Charles M. Taylor REP 4,656; April Montgomery UNA 2,599; 4 of 4 precincts)

    Official sourcePublished by North Carolina State Board of Elections · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 6:12 AM

  3. Montgomery edges Taylor in tight House race; Democrats flip county board (The Rant, Nov. 3, 2026: 13,919–13,537; 14 of 14 precincts; Lee 11,320–8,881; Moore 4,656–2,599; Sauls not seeking re-election; Taylor on Sanford City Council. Text-only.)

    Published by The Rant · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 6:12 AM

  4. Sanford Republican who sued over campaign mailers loses to unaffiliated candidate (The News & Observer / Esther Frances, updated Nov. 4, 2026: Montgomery led after all precincts; recount possible; Taylor lawsuit over mailers. Text-only.)

    Published by The News & Observer · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 6:12 AM

  5. Two Incumbents, First-Year Independent Secure NC House Seats (The Pilot / Jonathan Bym, Nov. 3, 2026: Montgomery leads Taylor in complete unofficial results; margin within recount threshold. Text-only.)

    Published by The Pilot · Checked Nov 4, 2026, 6:12 AM

More from Lee County

Lee County news

Related stories