Today marks the first day candidates who intend to run for office can officially file in the state.
Candidates for the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives, and District Attorneys are among those who must file with the state Board of Elections in order to run for office.
This year, there's national interest in several of those races. That includes the Second Congressional District, where talk show host Frank Roche is expected to file to run against the incumbent, U.S. Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers. Democratic primary candidates who've said they'll file in that race include the former American Idol runner-up, Clay Aiken, former Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, and Toni Morris, a counselor from Fayetteville.
Meanwhile, candidates for the state House and Senate and all county and local offices except for District Attorneys must file with county boards of elections. The filing period ends on Friday, February 28th.