Wednesday, October 14, 2026
By Mark Jurkowitz | Outer Banks Voice on February 17, 2026
The March 3 Republican primary contest between Keith Kidwell and Darren Armstrong will determine the next representative for District 79 in the North Carolina House of Representatives. No Democrat is running for the seat.
The District includes Beaufort, Pamlico and Hyde Counties as well as a large chunk of Dare County that starts in southern Kill Devil Hills and includes Nags Head, Manteo and the unincorporated portions of the county.
Kidwell, a four-term incumbent, is being challenged by businessman and farmer Darren Armstrong. Their responses to a series of questions from the Voice are included in this story and their bios are at the end of the article.
Darren Armstrong
From the political point of view, the biggest problem I see for the folks of District 79 is having representation that can build coalitions with several districts across Eastern North Carolina for the purpose of having some strength in numbers to promote the needs of our part of the state.
Keith Kidwell
Jobs in Eastern NC have been a challenge since NAFTA passed. We lost thousands of jobs and have recovered only a portion of them. I will continue to work with economic development to bring jobs to the east. Projects like the expansion and improvements at Washington Warren Airport. Work with existing local businesses to identify how we can help bring new, well-paying jobs to the area. We also need to address the housing issue. We must build housing that our area workforce can afford. The coastal counties must be able to protect beaches, homes, and infrastructure such as highways and ferry docks with hardened structures. We must prevent the government from interfering in the job market through overregulation. For example, when the Senate tried to shut down the commercial shrimping industry. We must continue to support all forms of agriculture and aquaculture without harming the environment, while protecting our citizens, land, and water from environmental abuse. All businesses should be held accountable for damages, sickness or environmental damages.
Darren Armstrong
Absolutely! All issues agriculture. Protect and improve our “Right to Farm” laws. I will work side by side with the Senate and House Agriculture leaders in support of Commissioner Steve Troxler’s vision to maintain agriculture as the State’s number one economic driver. I will promote and protect our Eastern North Carolina farm families because 76% of our state’s farm gate sales are produced east of Raleigh. You cannot separate food and freedom.
Keith Kidwell
Reducing regulations to allow affordable housing. Repeal the restriction on building hardened structures in areas where we are losing beaches, homes and highways.
Darren Armstrong
Local agriculture and small businesses are our top economic drivers. I am an example of both. I was born here, raised here, schooled here, and have worked here all my life. My love for this area of our state is part of who I am. I will go to Raleigh to promote our Eastern North Carolina commonsense heritage that we love.
Keith Kidwell
My record speaks for itself. I have consistently worked first and foremost to protect the liberty of the people. I have received a variety of accolades for being the most conservative member in either legislative chamber. I’ve stood to protect business and religion with several lawsuits against the governor when he closed our churches and businesses. Led the effort to stop Shrimpgate. Authored the legislation that restricts the governor’s ability to summarily close the state without concurrence of the Council of State and then the General Assembly.
Darren Armstrong
Yes, I think we need to be less dependent and satisfied with a “Permanent Continuation Budget Resolution” that averts a government “shutdown” and more intense on adopting a new two-year budget every two years. The House blaming the Senate and the Senate blaming the House is not good enough and I don’t think it is good enough for our teachers and state employees.
Keith Kidwell
The House passed a responsible budget with good raises for teachers & state employees. We restore the rainy-day fund to pre-Helene levels and do not impose any new taxes. That budget languishes in the Senate. The version they offered offers minuscule raises, taxes all services, and creates a fiscal cliff that will need to be addressed with a new tax stream to sustain. I will not vote for that budget. The House will continue working toward the budget we passed, with higher raises and an overall stronger financial position for all of North Carolina.
Self-Employed/Owner:
Hyde Park Farms, LLC
Slades Creek Farm, LLC
Circle Grove Seeds, Inc.
Education:
NC State University, Agricultural Institute – Associate’s Degree in Ag Business “National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Leadership Training.”
Professional/Civic Memberships
Pike Road Church of Christ, member and deacon
Beaufort County Community College Board of Trustees, member
Pungo Christian Academy Board of Directors, chair
US Grains Council, member and past chair
Corn Board Assn. of North Carolina, member and past chair
Hyde County Soil and Water Board of Directors, past member
East Coast Soy Processors, LLC – member
MAIZALL, member and past director
Hyde County Chamber of Commerce, past President
Hyde County Farm Bureau, member
Blacklands Farm Managers Association, member and past chair
Current Resident:
Belhaven, North Carolina – Beaufort County
Originally from Ponzer, North Carolina – Hyde County
Family: wife, Dawn, children, 3 sons – Jonah (age 22), Braden (age 20), and Trent (age 17)
64 Years old, married for 44 years to the girl next door, Viki Kidwell, whom I met when I was four. One son, Jason, raised my niece, who was orphaned at 5 years old, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Work Experience:
Nine years of retail warehousing & international distribution, facilities management, inventory, and purchasing. With several Fortune 100 companies.
Two years of sales management with a nationwide food service corporation.
40 years manager/franchise owner of H&R Block, Washington, NC & New Jersey
Certifications:
1996 Passed Enrolled Agent exam (Licensed to represent taxpayers in front of the IRS & all 50 states)
1998 Passed the North Carolina Real Estate Agent and Broker exams.
2001 Passed the Securities and Exchange Commission Series 6 and 63 exams.
Certified Master Tax Advisor and Small Business Advisor with H&R Block.
Licensed Health & Life Insurance agent in North Carolina
Master Tax Advisor & Certified Instructor with H&R Block
First-degree Black Belt
Current activities:
Member of three local Chambers of Commerce.
Member of the Business & Accounting Advisory Board at Beaufort County Community College.
Past Activities:
Instructor, Beaufort County Community College, Ten Years
Knights of Columbus Treasurer/Leader– Six years
Tranters Creek Home-owners Assoc. Treasurer – Seven Years.
Ambassador and Business & Industry Council with the Washington Chamber.
Several other Non-Profit organizations.
Chairman of Beaufort County GOP for five years
Treasurer of the 3rd District GOP for two years
Vice-Chairman, 3rd District GOP, one year
Delegate to the 2016 GOP National Convention
Delegate to the NC GOP Conventions four times
Served on the NC GOP and 3rd District Resolutions committee three times
Served on the NCGOP POO committee
Served on the Boards for:
St. Peter’s Church, Clifton, NJ – four years
Representative Keith D. Kidwell E.A.
Mother of Mercy Church, Washington, NC – Council President for two years
Coastal Pregnancy Center, Washington, NC – Treasurer for two years & Chairman for 10 years
Carolina Pregnancy Center, Greenville, NC – Treasurer, 10 years
Magoo’s Christmas 4 Veterans Inc (501(c)3 – Founder
Memberships:
National Association of Enrolled Agents
National Association of Tax Preparers
National Association of Professional Bookkeepers
Washington Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce
Belhaven/Hyde Chamber of Commerce
Aurora Chamber of Commerce
Knights of Columbus 4th Degree.
NRA – Life Member
Grassroots North Carolina Life Member
Gun Owners of America Life Member
Currently serving in the North Carolina House of Representatives for the 79th District for Beaufort, Hyde, Dare and Pamlico counties
Serves on the following committees:
House Finance Committee Chairman
House Select Committee on Government Efficiency Chairman
House State & Local Government Committee Chairman
House Agriculture & Environment
House Regulatory Reform Committee
House Select Committee on Helene Recovery
Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice & Public Safety
House Revenue Laws Study Committee Vice-Chairman
House Select Committee on Government Efficiency Chairman
Freedom Caucus Chairman
Former Committees Served
House Commerce Committee
House Environment Committee
House Pensions & Retirement Committee
House Select Committee on School Safety
House Banking Committee Chairman
Comments
OBX Resident
@Rep Kidwell. Beacuase of past derogatory racial comments to other House members, you were forced to resign from leadership roles, primarily for attacking a house members christian faith and comparing her church to the Church of Satan. Are you sorry for making those comments?
Also, are you still an active member of the Oath Keepers?
You were one of two state lawmakers whose names appeared in 2021 on a hacked membership list of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia that was heavily involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Previously you have declined to comment on whether you continue to be an active member of the Oath Keepers.
Thank you in advance for answering my questions.
Nosey OBXer
Come on people…. We deserve better representation than either of these two!!! Might as well have no representation in Dare county. 🙄
Concerned in Dare
My personal choice between these two candidates, would have to be Mr. Armstrong as he gave good answers to the questions and stayed on subject. His resume is also MUCH stronger than Mr. Kidwell’s for the needs of Eastern NC. Mr. Kidwell boasting that he is regarded as the most conservative in either legislative chamber is not a ringing endorsement as it tells me he might not be legislating for all of NC.
Kelly
Mr. Kidwell may not be perfect, but he sure fought for Commercial Fishermen.
Mr. Armstrong appears to have one agenda and that is agriculture.
Mr. Armstrong is a good person with a lot of support, but we need someone who will work for all.
Jessica Van Essendelft
Representative Kidwell’s 7 years
of service to Eastern NC has been strong, faithful, and true. His commitment to conservative values has been demonstrated in the legislation he initiated and supported. We can trust him to continue to stand for the beliefs that made America Great!
Missy
If you want an honest politician, you support Kidwell. If you want small government and fiscal responsibility, you support Kidwell. If you want someone who is in touch with people in his district and who works tirelessly for people in his district and all North Carolinians, you support Kidwell. Kidwell is not for sale. He cannot be bought. His principals are in every fiber of his being. If you like bloated government and politicians who talk a lot but don’t produce anything, Kidwell is not your Man.
Sold out by Kidwell
Kidwell, totally sold out his conservative constituency in Dare, with the affordable housing meddling, Dare towns had to fight his “pipe dream legislation” with law suits. Keith doesn’t deserve votes in Dare unless you are for more government regulations on local territory.
Daimon
Representative Kidwell is a proven fighter for the people and he always has been. His voting record is stellar, his policies are people strong policies and he is North Carolina first! He is a great friend and is always a “giver.” The North Carolina citizens are blessed to have this man, Keith Kidwell to represent us again. He will win again because We the People are voting for him!
Earl
Rep. Keith Kidwell has the results showing what he stands for …. conservatism, small financially prudent government, protection for farmers and commercial fisherman, consideration for ALL in his district and standing for what’s right regardless of who stands in the way. Talk is cheap … Keith Kidwell has the proof in results. If you value true freedom in religion, small government and pursuit of the American dream, it’s got to be KIDWELL FOR 79TH DISTRICT!
Greg
The Republican Party always goes against a clean environment, nationally and locally. A clean environment brings visitors from areas where the environment is not so clean. In surveys vuditirs polled lined our clean waters , beaches and parklands. A clean marine, estuarine and wetland environment is essential for commercial fishing. Agricultural interests must realize this. Commercial fishing brings in food of a high quality. That enterprise should not suffer due to runoff into the coastal waters. Mr Kidwell is certainly not the answer. Mr Armstrong needs to realize that food also comes out of our waters. Dare county should not have been split in two. That was a move by the NC GOP who really do not respect The Constitution.
Patrick Cotter
Keith Kidwell wants to keep leveling land and build housing whereas Armstrong wants to preserve our farmlands from destruction.
Kidwell also put commercial fisheries ahead of recreational fisherman instead of allowing both to harvest fairly.
Easy decision for me Armstrong all day.