NC campaign finance complaints filed against Mecklenburg Democratic primary winner
Two candidates in a Democratic primary for a seat on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners allege the winner ran afoul of campaign finance laws.
Morris “Mac” McAdoo defeated Jessica Finkel and Adam Pasiak in the March 3 Democratic primary in Mecklenburg County Commission District 1, which includes Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius and parts of north Charlotte. Incumbent Democrat Elaine Powell isn’t running for reelection, and McAdoo is slated to face Republican Aaron Marin in the November general election.
Pasiak and Finkel alleged in complaints filed with the State Board of Elections shortly after the primary that McAdoo potentially violated campaign finance laws during the race. The complaints stem from McAdoo’s handling of two campaign finance committees, one for a scuttled legislative campaign and another for his local race.
McAdoo says he’ll cooperate with a review by state election officials.
What’s in campaign finance complaints?
The complaints call out McAdoo for having two open campaign finance committees, “McAdoo for North Carolina” and “McAdoo for Mecklenburg.”
Public records show McAdoo filed to form the North Carolina committee in November for a run against incumbent Carla Cunningham in state House District 106. McAdoo previously told The Charlotte Observer he planned to run for that legislative seat but instead filed to run for County Commission in December. McAdoo filed to close the House committee Jan. 12 but was told more reports had to be filed before the committee could shut down, according to records.
The House committee was still listed as “active” by the State Board of Elections as of Tuesday, though records show McAdoo filed to close it again in late February.
The paperwork forming the McAdoo for Mecklenburg committee is dated Feb. 3, though Dec. 12 is listed as the “date organized.” McAdoo told The Charlotte Observer he was delayed in forming a committee for his county campaign because the Mecklenburg Board of Elections misdated a form, which had to be corrected before he could open a bank account for the committee.
Both complaints further allege McAdoo exceeded the maximum a person or committee can contribute to another committee under North Carolina law, which is $6,800. Pasiak and Finkel point to two expenditures listed on the 2026 first quarter campaign finance report from the McAdoo for North Carolina committee: a $5,605.95 donation to the McAdoo for Mecklenburg campaign and a $6,399 charge for “political mailer fee.” The complaints contend the $6,399 paid for mailers for McAdoo’s county campaign, bringing his House committee’s spending on the local race to about $12,000.
Pasiak and Finkel also questioned why the 2026 first quarter report posted for the McAdoo for Mecklenburg committee doesn’t include an itemized list of donations and expenditures.
In a news release, they said “McAdoo has a well-documented history of questionable political activities in previous campaigns.” Public records show McAdoo, who’s run for seats in the General Assembly, has been fined for late reports in the past.
“Mr. McAdoo will be on a much bigger stage in the coming months and he must represent himself accurately to the people who voted for him and those who will consider him in November,” Finkel said in a news release. “We should all be held to the same standard when running for office. The people of District 1 and Mecklenburg County deserve transparency and accountability.”
McAdoo reacts to complaints
In a statement, McAdoo told the Observer he has “not accepted donations from political action committees, special interest groups, or organizations” and has “sought guidance from staff at the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections regarding campaign finance reporting requirements” during the campaign.
McAdoo said his campaign takes election laws “seriously” and will “fully cooperate” with any State Board of Elections review.
“If there are any questions regarding reporting or if any clarification or amendment is requested, we will address those matters promptly and transparently,” he said. “Our campaign remains focused on serving the people of District 1 and continuing the positive momentum as we move toward the November general election.”
McAdoo and his campaign treasurer did not immediately respond to follow-up questions from an Observer reporter about the mailer expenditure on the House committee report and the itemized list of donations and expenditures for the county committee.
How do campaign finance complaints work?
State Board of Elections spokesman Pat Gannon declined to comment on the status of Pasiak’s and Finkel’s complaints, citing the confidentiality of campaign finance complaints and investigations in North Carolina.
The state’s Campaign Finance Complaint Policy says all complaints will be reviewed to see if the state board has the authority to investigate. If the state board moves forward with an investigation, it will request a response from the campaign accused of violating campaign finance law.
Asked about the rules for campaign committee spending when they close, Mecklenburg Board of Elections spokeswoman Kristin Mavromatis told the Observer that the $6,800 spending limit applies if the money is going from “one account to someone else’s account” but that there’s “no limit if closing one account and opening another.”
State Board of Elections staff can handle the complaint as a “compliance action,” which involves working with the campaign accused of violating the law to file or amend reports or take other corrective action to come into compliance with the law. Staff can also deem the complaint an “enforcement action,” which leads to further investigation and can result in a criminal referral or civil penalties.
This story was originally published March 11, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
