NC elections officials tap new chairman, executive director

Francis De Luca was selected as chairman of the State Board of Elections. Sam Hayes, House Speaker Destin Hall's general counsel, replaces Karen Brinson Bell as executive director.

State Board of Elections Executive Director Karen Brinson attends final NCSBE meeting. She looks on in tears as colleagues nominate her replacement.

The new Republican majority on the State Board of Elections got sworn in on Wednesday and selected new leaders to oversee the agency.

The shift is thanks to a bill passed last year transferring appointment powers away from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein and instead to Republican Auditor Dave Boliek.

Francis De Luca, former president of NC Civitas, was selected by his colleagues along party lines as the board’s chairman, allowing him to preside over NCSBE meetings.

Jeff Carmon, a Democratic member, took aim at De Luca’s nomination, saying existing NCSBE member Stacy Eggers would be a more appropriate choice.

“I think you'd be the perfect person,” Carmon told Eggers, before correcting himself, “The perfect Republican.”

De Luca told Anderson Alerts after the meeting that voters could expect “a gradual improvement in everything.”

Democrat Jeff Carmon, Republican Francis De Luca, Republican Stacy “Four” Eggers, Democrat Siobhan O’Duffy Millen and Republican Bob Rucho (left to right) get sworn in at a May 7, 2025, State Board of Elections meeting.

In light of Republican Court of Appeals Judge Jefferson Griffin’s election protest, De Luca said he thinks there’s ample room for state lawmakers to effect change.