New Hanover County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Katherine Corpening won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4; the result is unofficial until North Carolina certifies it on November 24. Corpening and Hogston 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.

About this race

Katherine Corpening (Democratic) and Chad Hogston (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4. 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).

What this office does

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, Chad Hogston, 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.

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North Carolina › New Hanover County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

Who won? The official answer comes November 24.

North Carolina makes results final in three steps.

✓

Done · Nov 3

Votes were cast and counted

Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.

Happening now · by Nov 13

New Hanover County double-checks its count

The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.

Next · Nov 24

North Carolina makes it official

The State Board of Elections certifies the result. The winner appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 4, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call races. Official running count: North Carolina official results.

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4

Katherine Corpening won the race for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4 with 53 of 53 precincts reporting, unofficial, WECT reported.WECT, “Unofficial results for 2026 General Election in Southeastern North Carolina”, November 4, 2026. Unofficial until certified.

Reports are checked daily until North Carolina certifies on November 24; a certified winner replaces the report on that day.

Katherine Corpening

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

Fairness and accountability, with judges listening carefully and treating all people with dignity
Bringing real-world community experience to the bench

Biography

Katherine Corpening is an Assistant Public Defender in New Hanover County with more than a decade of experience representing indigent clients, per her campaign site. She helped establish Community Empowerment Court, a treatment-focused alternative to incarceration, and is a Wilmington native and Wake Forest and Campbell Law graduate.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Chad Hogston

RepublicanIncumbent

Biography

Hogston has served 16 years on the district court bench and has 30 years of legal experience in New Hanover and Pender Counties, per the campaign site. Hogston grew up in Virginia, was the first in the family to attend college, and began legal practice in 1996, developing experience across a wide range of cases before becoming a judge. As a district court judge, Hogston hears criminal, family court, domestic violence, civil and mental health commitment matters.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on the ballotNew Hanover County Board of Commissioners

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4 in 2026?

As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Katherine Corpening won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4; 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 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Katherine Corpening and Chad Hogston. 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 4 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 4 race?

As of November 4, 2026, WECT reported that Katherine Corpening won North Carolina District Court Judge, District 6, Seat 4; 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.

Verify this race

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.

The rest of your New Hanover County ballot

16 tracked races in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on the November 3 ballot

New Hanover County Board of Education New Hanover County Clerk of Superior Court New Hanover County Sheriff See all 16 New Hanover County races

Candidate profiles

Katherine Corpening, full profile Chad Hogston, full profile Official North Carolina election office