Brian Olson
Wake County Board of Education District 9 · Wake County, North Carolina · November 3, 2026
Also on the ballot: Cheryl Alexis, Tyler Swanson
Brian Olson is a Democratic first-time candidate, military veteran, and West Cary Middle School PTA officer running for District 9. His campaign site offers only a general education-focused tagline, with no specific policy positions found on the bond, vouchers, library materials, or school assignment.
What this office decides
The Wake County Board of Education governs the Wake County Public School System, the largest district in North Carolina. Its nine members hire the superintendent, adopt the budget request sent to county commissioners, set student assignment and school calendars, and approve policies on curriculum, library materials, discipline, and school safety. Members are elected by district in nonpartisan races.
How this race lines up with you
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Dossier
Researched 2026-09-23 · Claude Code research agent with web searchDonald Trump: nothing found. No Trump endorsement, opposition, or statement regarding Olson found.
Who they are
Brian Olson, 53, of Cary, is a first-time candidate, military veteran, small-business owner, wheelchair user, and vice president of the West Cary Middle School PTA (N&O via NewsBreak). Reported as a Democrat (IndyWeek); not the incumbent, as Tyler Swanson holds the seat (IndyWeek). Reporting says he previously served on a California community college's board and plans to draw on experience as a parent and project manager (N&O via NewsBreak); this could not be independently confirmed (the original page was inaccessible).
Positions
- Party/endorsements: Reported as a Democrat by IndyWeek (IndyWeek); no county party, Moms for Liberty, NCAE/Wake NCAE, or Wake Ed PAC endorsement found.
- $680M bond, vouchers, library materials, school assignment: No public position found on any of these.
- General platform: His campaign site's tagline is "A Veteran for Education," aiming to "deliver for Wake County students and schools," with no specific policies posted (Olson for Wake County Kids).
Record
No prior Wake County elected office found. Reporting describes prior service on a California community college board and current service as PTA vice president at West Cary Middle School (N&O via NewsBreak).
Money
No filings located. Wake County lists a registered "Olson, Brian" committee, but its linked filing portal required login and showed no figures (Wake County); check cf.ncsbe.gov directly for any filed reports.
Recent news
- 2026 (exact date not found): IndyWeek profiles the four-district school board race and lists Olson as a District 9 candidate whose campaign website was "under construction" (IndyWeek).
What we couldn't find
- Any stated position on the bond, vouchers, library materials, or school assignment.
- Independent confirmation of his California community-college board service.
- Campaign-finance totals; any organizational endorsement; Trump-related statements.
- Whether a write-in candidate qualified for this race.