2026 North Carolina judicial elections

One justice of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and three judges of the fifteen-member North Carolina Court of Appeals are scheduled to be elected by North Carolina voters on November 3, 2026, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years. These elections are conducted on a partisan basis.

Primary elections (for seats with more than one candidate from a political party) were held on March 3, 2026.NC State Board of Elections

Supreme Court Seat 1

Justice Anita Earls is the incumbent. Democratic primary Nominee Anita Earls, incumbent justice

Republican primary Nominee Sarah Stevens, attorney and state representative (2009–present)

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error AnitaEarls (D) SarahStevens (R) Other UndecidedCatawba College/YouGovSeptember 4–15, 2026885 (LV)–44%36%1%19%High Point UniversitySeptember 9–16, 2026813 (RV)± 3.8%43%41%3%13%706 (LV)± 3.9%46%44%3%8%Harper Polling (R)September 13–15, 2026608 (LV)± 4.0%47%36%–16%YouGovAugust 3–12, 2026660 (LV)± 3.8%47%44%1%8%800 (RV)± 3.5%44%41%2%14%Harper Polling (R)August 9–10, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%43%40%3%14%Change Research (D)July 29 – August 1, 2026967 (LV)± 3.4%45%39%–16%Public Policy Polling (D)July 10–11, 2026759 (LV)± 3.6%44%42%–14%YouGovJune 1–10, 2026906 (LV)± 3.8%40%35%4%21%Harper Polling (R)May 10–11, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%41%36%5%18%Change Research (D)May 4–8, 2026957 (LV)± 3.3%44%40%–16%YouGovMarch 26 – April 6, 2026703 (LV)± 3.7%43%43%2%13%800 (RV)± 4.1%42%40%2%16%Harper Polling (R)March 22–23, 2026600 (LV)± 4.0%41%38%3%18%Public Policy Polling (D)March 13–14, 2026556 (V)± 4.2%43%40%–17%Change Research (D)January 31 – February 4, 20261,069 (V)± 3.1%45%43%–12%Change Research (D)January 5–7, 20261,105 (LV)± 3.5%41%42%–17%

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 1 Judge John S. Arrowood is the incumbent. Democratic primary Nominee John S. Arrowood, incumbent judge

Republican primary Nominee Michael C. Byrne, administrative law judge

Eliminated in primary Matt Smith, Union County Superior Court judge (Judicial District 20B)

Endorsements

Results

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JohnArrowood (D) MichaelByrne (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 10–11, 2026759 (LV)± 3.6%40%41%19%Public Policy Polling (D)March 13–14, 2026556 (V)± 4.2%43%40%17%

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 2 Judge Toby Hampson is the incumbent. Democratic primary Nominee Toby Hampson, incumbent judge

Republican primary Nominee George Bell, Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge (Judicial District 26C)

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TobyHampson (D) GeorgeBell (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 10–11, 2026759 (LV)± 3.6%40%43%17%Public Policy Polling (D)March 13–14, 2026556 (V)± 4.2%41%43%16%

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 3 Judge Allegra Collins is the incumbent.

Democratic primary Nominee Christine Walczyk, Wake County District Court judge (Judicial District 10C) Eliminated in primary James Whalen, attorney at Brooks Pierce LLP Declined Allegra Collins, incumbent judgeLinkedInFacebook

Endorsements

Results

Republican primary Nominee Craig Collins, Gaston County Superior Court judge (Judicial District 27A)

General election Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error ChristineWalczyk (D) CraigCollins (R) UndecidedPublic Policy Polling (D)July 10–11, 2026759 (LV)± 3.6%41%41%18%Public Policy Polling (D)March 13–14, 2026556 (V)± 4.2%42%41%17%

Results

2026 North Carolina judicial elections

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