As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Melinda H. Crouch won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3; the result is unofficial until North Carolina certifies it on November 24. Crouch and Cline were on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official New Hanover County election filings. Certified results will appear here once the election office certifies the count. North Carolina certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: er.ncsbe.gov.
Melinda H. Crouch (Democratic) and Janelle L. Cline (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3. Voters across New Hanover and Pender counties vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).
Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.
This race. The sitting officeholder, Melinda H. Crouch, is on the ballot.
This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.
We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.
North Carolina › New Hanover County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3
This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: North Carolina official results.
Reports are checked daily until North Carolina certifies on November 24; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.
Top priorities
From the campaign site
Melinda H. Crouch has served as a District Court Judge for New Hanover and Pender counties since 2007, presiding primarily over Family Court, per her campaign site. Licensed since 1984, she practiced law in Wilmington for more than two decades before joining the bench.
Janelle Cline has worked as a prosecutor for the New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney's Office and later for the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys, per her campaign site. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, holds a master's degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas Little Rock Bowen School of Law, per the same source. She lives in Wilmington.
Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 in 2026?
As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Melinda H. Crouch won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3; the result is unofficial until North Carolina certifies it on November 24. 2 candidates were tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Melinda H. Crouch and Janelle L. Cline. Candidate information follows official New Hanover County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 election in North Carolina?
Election Day was Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Certified results will appear on this page as the election office certifies them. North Carolina certifies the general election by November 24, 2026; county canvasses are due November 13. Official results: https://er.ncsbe.gov/. Voting rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact New Hanover County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Who won the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3 race?
As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Melinda H. Crouch won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 3; the result is unofficial until North Carolina certifies it on November 24. Source: WECT, "Unofficial results for 2026 General Election in Southeastern North Carolina", November 4, 2026. We do not call races.
Candidate roster from official New Hanover County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full New Hanover County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
16 tracked races in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.