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Judicial Elections
Supreme Court of North Carolina Elections 2026
Supreme Court of North Carolina justices are chosen in partisan elections to 8-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. 1 seat is on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in North Carolina?
- Highest court
- Supreme Court of North Carolina — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Partisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 8 years
- To serve again
- Run for re-election
- 2026 ballot
- 1 seat on November 3 — 1 contested
How North Carolina chooses its judges
Supreme Court of North Carolina justices are chosen in partisan elections to 8-year terms and must run again to keep their seats.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
- Term: 8 years.
- To serve again: Run for re-election.
- Age rule: Mandatory retirement at 72.
- Other courts: All courts use partisan elections.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Supreme Court of North Carolina elections in 2026
1 seat is up in 2026 (partisan election).
Anita Earls’s seat
On the Nov 3 ballot- Anita EarlsIncumbentDemocrat
- Sarah StevensRepublican
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified.
How to research judges on your North Carolina ballot
- Your sample ballot: North Carolina’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in North Carolina — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in North Carolina
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. North Carolina’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
North Carolina’s senators: Thomas Tillis (Republican) and Ted Budd (Republican).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in North Carolina has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in North Carolina and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in North Carolina as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in North Carolina?
Supreme Court of North Carolina justices are chosen in partisan elections to 8-year terms and must run again to keep their seats. All courts use partisan elections.
How long is a term on the Supreme Court of North Carolina?
8 years. At the end of a term, they must run again to keep their seats. Mandatory retirement at 72.
Who is running for the Supreme Court of North Carolina in 2026?
1 seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Anita Earls’s seat: Anita Earls (D), incumbent vs. Sarah Stevens (R).
How do I research judges on my North Carolina ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.ncsbe.gov/registering/how-register lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in North Carolina?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. North Carolina's senators, Thomas Tillis and Ted Budd, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in North Carolina
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
North Carolina Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.