Democratic Justice Anita Earls wins reelection to the NC Supreme Court

North Carolina voters reelected Democratic Justice Anita Earls to the state Supreme Court Tuesday. She defeated Republican challenger Sarah Stevens, a former state lawmaker and longtime attorney.

At the same time, three Court of Appeals contests helped determine whether Republicans would further consolidate their control over the state’s appellate courts. Democrats appeared to have won each open seat.

Earls appears to have won by 59% to 41% for Stevens with all precincts reporting Tuesday evening, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections. 

“You have spoken, and your voices have been heard. A majority of you have decided to return me to the court,” Earls said during her victory speech. “You have decided you want a court that will fight to protect your rights and protect our children’s rights. Thank you for sharing our vision and working so hard to get us closer to where we need to be.”

Republicans currently hold a 5-2 majority on the state Supreme Court. Earls’ win maintains one of the two Democratic seats on the bench.

Earls has served on the Supreme Court since 2019. Before joining the bench, she spent more than three decades practicing civil rights law, including serving in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and founding the Southern Coalition for Social Justice.

Her tenure on the court has included several high-profile disagreements with Republican justices over redistricting, voting rights and public education funding.

Stevens, who represented Surry County in the North Carolina House from 2009 until 2026, practiced family law for more than 30 years and served as the chamber’s speaker pro tempore from 2017 to 2025.

Her campaign emphasized judicial restraint and interpreting the law as written. Stevens criticized Earls’ previous rulings on redistricting and voter identification, arguing that judges should not rewrite laws or substitute their own policy preferences for those of lawmakers.

The Supreme Court race was one of four statewide contests for seats on North Carolina’s appellate courts.

Voters also decided three seats on the 15-member Court of Appeals, which reviews decisions from lower courts and administrative agencies. Cases are generally heard by rotating panels of three judges.

In the first contest, Democratic incumbent Judge John Arrowood of Charlotte defeated Republican Michael Byrne of Cary. 

Arrowood appears to have won 57% to 42% with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections. 

Byrne is an administrative law judge with the state’s Office of Administrative Hearings. Arrowood has served on the Court of Appeals since 2017 and previously worked as an attorney and staff member for the court.

In the second contest, Democratic incumbent Judge Toby Hampson defeated Republican George Cooper Bell. Hampson appears to have won 57% to 43% with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results from the N.C. Board of Elections.

Bell, who lives in Cornelius, is a Mecklenburg County Superior Court judge who has presided over felony cases, including first-degree murder trials. Hampson of Raleigh has served on the Court of Appeals since 2019.

The third contest was for an open seat previously held by Democratic Judge Allegra Collins, who did not seek reelection. 

Republican Craig Collins, a Gaston County Superior Court judge, faced Democratic candidate Christine Walczyk, a Wake County District Court judge who has served on the bench since 2007. Walczyk defeated Collins 57% to 43% with all precincts reporting. 

County boards of election must still count provisional ballots, some absentee ballots, and military ballots, which don’t have to be in until 5 p.m. Nov. 12.

Voters and candidates may also file election protests alleging illegalities or irregularities. 

County boards of election are scheduled to meet on Nov. 13 to certify election results.