2026 General Election: November 3, 2026. New info launches early October.
Steve Rutherford
Party:
Democrat
Incumbent:
No
Age:
Approximately 68
Previous experience in elected office:
None
Occupation:
Filmmaker, founder of Rutherford Media Group, LLC; U.S. Navy veteran
Description:
Rutherford's website lists his top issues as expanding affordable healthcare, strengthening public schools, supporting veterans/seniors and maintaining Medicare/Medicaid. He also wants "fair taxes" for nurses, teachers, veterans and small business owners who he says are "carrying the load" while "the wealthy and well-connected get special breaks."
Other personal:
Rutherford is from Gaston County and graduated from South Point High School. He is married and a father and grandfather. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and was also president of the local NAACP chapter in Charleston, S.C. He says he focuses on documentary filmmaking these days and has received a number of awards. He has a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University and studied executive leadership at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. He says he also pursued graduate work at HEC Paris.