The closing of the candidacy deadline for 2010 elections opened up a few surprises on Friday.

The Democrats' attempt to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx from her three-term congressional seat got a little easier after the deadline passed without a primary opponent emerging to face Watauga County farmer Billy Kennedy.

"We believe this is the first time since Steve Neale gave up the 5th District seat in 1994 that there is no Democratic primary for the nomination," Kennedy campaign manager Lainey Edmisten said.

Perhaps the biggest surprise came in the Watauga County school board race, as three more candidates edged into an already-crowded six-way contest at the last minute for a total of nine candidates.