Josie Barnhart

In office now

Josie Barnhart is the Board of Education Member. Josie Barnhart's page: the office they hold, how to reach it and where they stand.

About this race

Governs the local public school district. Sets the school budget and local school taxes, hires and oversees the superintendent, and approves curriculum, school calendars and policies.

8 candidates ran for New Hanover County Board of Education in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

About Josie Barnhart

Mathematics educator. A Republican board member seeking re-election; a mathematics educator with a degree in mathematics education. She says she has worked with county commissioners to increase school funding every year since joining the board.

What they say they'll focus on:

• Replicate effective programs so students succeed at any school
• Tiered technology use: limited screens in early grades, take-home devices in high school
• Weighted student funding and lifting the cap on exceptional-children funding
• Support the 10-year facilities sustainability plan, redistricting by capacity
• Early intervention and stronger plans for low-performing schools

In their own words: WECT / Port City Daily / WHQR / The Seahawk media consortium questionnaire

Summarized in our words from source 1, source 2, checked October 2026. Not an endorsement.

Where they stand

Moderately right, AI estimate from their own website (83% confidence).

How we got this: our AI model read their campaign site and placed Josie Barnhart by the policy positions stated there. It is never told the candidate's party. The positions it found: education & schools (moderately right) (details under Issue by issue).

83% confidence means the positions it found mostly pointed one way. We show an AI estimate only at 70% or higher, and it's less certain than a voting record or donor score. How AI estimates work · the exact instructions it follows

Issue by issue

AI-estimated from their own website, never told the candidate's party. The percentage is the AI's confidence in which way that stance leans. An issue appears only when the AI finds a clearly stated position (it must be at least 60% sure they took one) and is at least 70% confident in its direction; otherwise we leave the issue out. The exact instructions

Funding

$40K raised, $175 from small donors.

Source: North Carolina State Board of Elections, reports through 2026-10-08.

More about Josie Barnhart

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Also running

• Pat Bradford · Republican
• Wendy Dale · Democrat
• Amy Dunning · Republican
• Margie Gewirtzman · Democrat
• Jerry Jones, Jr. · Democrat
• Brittnei LaRue · Democrat
• Chris Sutton · Republican

Compare everyone in this race →

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What party is Josie Barnhart?

Josie Barnhart is running as a Republican.

Is Josie Barnhart the incumbent?

Yes. Josie Barnhart currently holds this office.

What does the New Hanover County Board of Education seat do?

Governs the local public school district. Sets the school budget and local school taxes, hires and oversees the superintendent, and approves curriculum, school calendars and policies.

Who is Josie Barnhart running against?

Pat Bradford, Wendy Dale, Amy Dunning, Margie Gewirtzman, Jerry Jones, Jr., Brittnei LaRue and Chris Sutton, for New Hanover County Board of Education.

How much money has Josie Barnhart raised?

$40K as of the latest state campaign-finance filings.

Is Josie Barnhart liberal or conservative?

On SpectrumVote's left–right scale, Josie Barnhart is moderately right, AI estimate from their own website (83% confidence). This is an AI estimate and less certain than a published score.

Should I vote for Josie Barnhart?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare Josie Barnhart's record, funding and endorsements with the other candidates in this race and decide based on what matters to you.