Elections board member Bob Rucho resigns after apparent illegal donations
State law prohibits state election board members from giving to political candidates. Records show Rucho donated to a pair of candidates since taking office last year.
Bob Rucho resigned from the North Carolina State Board of Elections on Thursday after revelations he had made political contributions in apparent violation of state law.
Since joining the elections board in May 2025, Rucho donated to two county sheriffs, public campaign finance records show. Rucho wrote a $259 check to Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell in October and a $1,000 check to Catawba County Sheriff Don Brown in January. Brown has since returned the contribution. Both Campbell and Brown are up for reelection this year.
Under state law, NCSBE members aren’t allowed to “make a reportable contribution to a candidate for a public office over which the State Board would have jurisdiction or authority.”
Rucho didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. In announcing Rucho’s resignation, neither the State Board of Elections nor the Office of the State Auditor cited a reason.
Rucho has also come under scrutiny for public social media posts he wrote defending his former colleague, Senate leader Phil Berger, and criticizing Berger’s primary challenger, Sam Page.
