Judges on the North Carolina ballot in November 2026
North Carolina voters see 4 statewide court races, 71 county-level judicial races in the counties we track on the November 3, 2026 ballot in the races The Ballot Brief tracks. Retention questions are a yes-or-no vote on keeping a sitting judge; elected seats work like any other race.
Statewide court races
These seats are elected by every voter in North Carolina. Open a race for the full page.
Voted statewide: on every North Carolina ballot. 2 candidates.
Anita Earls (D)
Earls is an attorney who currently serves as an Associate Justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court, per the campaign site. Her campaign focuses on protecting constitutional rights for North Carolinians, per the campaign site.
Priorities: Upholding the state constitution, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide · Protecting access to healthcare, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide · Defending the right to a sound basic public education and voting rights, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide
Sarah Stevens is an attorney who practiced law for 40 years and served in the North Carolina House for 17.5 years, including as Speaker Pro Tempore and as chair of Judiciary committees, according to the NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide. She resigned her House seat in 2026 to focus on her campaign, per WRAL. Stevens is the Republican nominee challenging incumbent Justice Anita Earls for Supreme Court Seat 1. Sarah Stevens appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Supreme Court Associate Justice, Seat 01, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Voted statewide: on every North Carolina ballot. 2 candidates.
John S. Arrowood (D)
John S. Arrowood is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Michael C. Byrne is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Voted statewide: on every North Carolina ballot. 2 candidates.
Tobias (Toby) Hampson (D)
Tobias (Toby) Hampson is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Priorities: Keeping judges with Court of Appeals experience on the bench, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide · Defending the rule of law, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide
George Cooper Bell is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Voted statewide: on every North Carolina ballot. 2 candidates.
Christine Marie Walczyk (D)
Christine Marie Walczyk is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
Priorities: Protecting individual liberties and equal access to justice, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide · Maintaining an independent judiciary, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide
Craig Collins is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 8, 2026.
