Biography
Ken McCool is the Democratic candidate for North Carolina House of Representatives District 105, running against incumbent Republican Tricia Cotham in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][3] A former Matthews town commissioner, he says he first joined the Matthews Town Board at age 21 and also runs a small business selling sports cards.[2]
McCool said in a Ballotpedia survey that he is a lifelong Matthews resident and a graduate of Providence High School.[2] He said he served three terms on the Matthews Town Board, including one as Mayor Pro Tem, and that he worked on affordable housing, public safety and smart growth and helped bring an advanced manufacturing campus and a major park investment to the town.[2] Ballotpedia lists McCool as a nonpartisan candidate for Matthews Town Council in 2019, when he received 2,290 votes in a six-seat race.[1]
McCool listed public education, affordability and accountability as the key messages of his campaign.[2] He said he would prioritize public education and lowering costs, and he criticized the state legislature for not passing a budget and for promoting private school vouchers.[2]
- 1.Ken McCool - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 2.Ken McCool: Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses (2026) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
- 3.North Carolina House of Representatives elections, 2026 - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
North Carolina House District 105
Ken McCool is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina House District 105 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.