By address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Find your districts by addressNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 1Robert K. Martelle (R)
Robert K. Martelle
Robert K. Martelle is the Chief District Court Judge for the district covering McDowell and Rutherford counties, originally appointed to the bench by Governor Pat McCrory in February 2013 and re-elected in 2014, per the North Carolina Judicial Branch. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and his J.D. from the Campbell University School of Law, and was a partner at the firm of Williams & Martelle from 1995 to 2013. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 2Michelle McEntire (R)
Michelle McEntire
Michelle McEntire was appointed District Court Judge for the judicial district serving McDowell and Rutherford counties by Governor Roy Cooper in July 2020, filling the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Randy Pool, per a North Carolina Judicial Branch news release. McEntire was a sole practitioner at McEntire Law, PLLC and previously worked in the District Attorney's Office and as a clinical social worker, per the same release. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
North Carolina District Court Judge, District 41, Seat 3Ellen M. Shelley (R)
Ellen M. Shelley
Ellen M. Shelley currently serves as a District Court Judge for District 41, covering Rutherford and McDowell counties, appointed by Governor Roy Cooper on April 1, 2019, per the North Carolina Judicial Branch directory. Shelley earned a bachelor's degree from the University of South Carolina and a J.D. from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law before becoming a partner at Evans & Shelley, and she was re-elected to the bench in 2022. Her judgeellenshelley.com site still shows a 2022 primary countdown and copyright date, so it is not linked. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.
Full candidate profiles, priorities and campaign sites are on the McDowell County page.
Statewide races
U.S. SenateRoy Cooper (D) · Michael Whatley (R) · Shannon W. Bray (Libertarian) · Michael Dublin (Green)
Roy Cooper
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Lower the cost of food and groceries
- Make health care affordable
- Lower energy and utility costs
About Roy Cooper
Roy Cooper is a former North Carolina governor and attorney general, per the campaign site. He was born and raised in Nash County, earned undergraduate and law degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and practiced law in Rocky Mount, per the campaign site. The campaign site says he served four consecutive terms as attorney general and, as governor, reached a Medicaid expansion deal covering about 650,000 people.
Michael Whatley
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Enact the Trump agenda
- Make North Carolina safe again
- Fight illegal immigration
About Michael Whatley
Michael Whatley was raised in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, and holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Wake Forest University and the University of Notre Dame, per the campaign site. He began his public service as a federal law clerk in Charlotte and later served as Sen. Elizabeth Dole's chief of staff, per the campaign site. He served as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party and, at President Trump's request, as chairman of the Republican National Committee, per the campaign site.
Shannon W. Bray
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Economy and taxes: lower costs, simpler taxes
- Monetary policy and inflation
- Jobs, innovation and technology
About Shannon W. Bray
Shannon W. Bray is a Navy veteran and cybersecurity professional, per the campaign site. He says he is running for the U.S. Senate because North Carolina deserves leadership that understands modern threats without sacrificing fundamental freedoms, per the campaign site.
Michael Dublin
Top priorities
From the campaign site
- Democracy: get big money out of politics
- Environmental justice: a Green New Deal for North Carolina
- Social and racial equity
About Michael Dublin
Michael Dublin is a native North Carolinian, a public school educator who recently retired from teaching, and a lifelong community activist, per the campaign site. The campaign site says he has led a prison ministry for more than two decades. He filed as the North Carolina Green Party's U.S. Senate candidate on June 15, 2026, per the state Green Party.
Supreme Court Associate Justice, Seat 01Anita Earls (D) · Sarah Stevens (R)
Anita Earls
Top priorities
From other published sources
- 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
About Anita Earls
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.
Sarah Stevens
Sarah Stevens is an attorney with more than 30 years in private practice and president of the Surry County Bar Association, per her campaign site. She has served as Republican Leader and Speaker Pro Tempore of the North Carolina House, chairing the House Elections Law and Judiciary Committees, and holds a law degree from Campbell University School of Law, per her campaign site.
Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 01John S. Arrowood (D) · Michael C. Byrne (R)
John S. Arrowood
John S. Arrowood is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Michael C. Byrne
Michael C. Byrne is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 02Tobias (Toby) Hampson (D) · George Cooper Bell (R)
Tobias (Toby) Hampson
Top priorities
From other published sources
- 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
About Tobias (Toby) Hampson
Tobias (Toby) Hampson is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
George Cooper Bell
George Cooper Bell is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Court of Appeals Judge, Seat 03Christine Marie Walczyk (D) · Craig Collins (R)
Christine Marie Walczyk
Top priorities
From other published sources
- Protecting individual liberties and equal access to justice, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide
- Maintaining an independent judiciary, per NCSBE Judicial Voter Guide
About Christine Marie Walczyk
Christine Marie Walczyk is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Craig Collins
Craig Collins is on the State Board of Elections certified candidate list for this seat's November 3, 2026 ballot. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
North Carolina voters also decide 3 statewide ballot measures.
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
City boundaries and ZIP codes from the U.S. Census Bureau (2024 Gazetteer, 2020 ZCTA relationships). Candidate fields follow official election office filings; confirm with the North Carolina election office before voting.


