Shannon W. Bray, a Libertarian from Apex, is running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina's Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

Bray, a Navy veteran and cybersecurity professional, is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. He faces Republican Michael D. Whatley, Democrat Roy Cooper and Green Party candidate Michael Dublin.

Candidate information

  • Name: Shannon W. Bray
  • Party: Libertarian
  • Office sought: U.S. Senate, North Carolina
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Residence: Apex, North Carolina
  • Military service: U.S. Navy, 1991–1997
  • Education: Master's degree in cybersecurity, University of Delaware (2018); bachelor's degree in information technology, Colorado State University; associate's degree in history, Arapahoe Community College (2014)

Bray describes himself on X as a "Tech entrepreneur & blockchain advocate," Navy veteran, author and father. On his campaign website, he said he authored a book titled "Liberty Unleashed," which he said draws from his campaign experience, military service and legal disputes with government entities.

Experience and public service

Bray has run for office four times as a Libertarian. He was the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in both 2020 and 2022, according to INDY Week. In 2024, he placed second in the Libertarian primary for governor and was the party's nominee for lieutenant governor.

His professional background centers on cybersecurity. He has served as virtual chief information security officer at Secured Systems LLC since 2015, according to BallotReady profile data. Previous roles include senior systems architect at the U.S. Department of Defense (2018–2019), chief information security officer at ShareSquared (2015–2019) and chief architect at Planet Technologies (2009–2015). He also served as a technology fellow with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary from 2014 to 2017.

Earlier, Bray worked as a senior web developer at Visa, a Microsoft certified trainer at New Horizons and an adjunct instructor in computer science at Arapahoe Community College.

On the issues

Bray's campaign issues page and INDY Week reporting outline several policy priorities. Positions below reflect the candidate's own stated views.

Economy and taxes: Bray says he wants to fight inflation, protect savings "from hidden taxation," lower costs and simplify taxes. He says he would remove barriers so entrepreneurs and workers can thrive, according to his BallotReady responses.

Monetary policy: Bray supports abolishing the Federal Reserve, according to INDY Week.

Technology and digital assets: Bray advocates for cryptocurrency-friendly policies, according to INDY Week. His campaign website calls for protecting rights "without building a surveillance state" and building modern systems that work for citizens.

Criminal justice and drug policy: Bray supports legalizing drugs at the federal level while allowing states to set their own regulations, according to INDY Week.

Civil rights and government accountability: Bray says he would defend the Bill of Rights and limit federal overreach. His campaign website calls for transparency, oversight and responsible spending.

The Waxhaws Dispatch sent Bray a candidate questionnaire. He had not responded as of publication.