RALEIGH – Democratic Associate Justice Anita Earls won reelection to the North Carolina Supreme Court, defeating Republican challenger Sarah Stevens in unofficial returns from Tuesday’s election.
Earls had about 59% of the vote to Stevens’ 41% after nearly all expected ballots were reported, according to results cited by WRAL and other North Carolina outlets. The State Board of Elections says the totals remain unofficial while county boards count eligible provisional, cured absentee, military and overseas ballots.
County canvasses are scheduled for Nov. 13, and the State Board plans its canvass for Nov. 24. Those steps authenticate and certify the final totals. No recount request or election protest was identified in the current review.
The result gives Earls a second eight-year term. It does not change the court’s immediate partisan balance: Republicans will continue to hold five of the seven seats, while Earls and Associate Justice Allison Riggs are Democrats.
It does, however, preserve Democrats’ path to compete for control in 2028, when three seats now held by Republicans are scheduled to be on the ballot. A change in control is not assured; future nominations, campaigns and election results will determine the court’s composition.
WRAL reported that Democrats also won the three statewide Court of Appeals contests on the 2026 ballot. Judges John Arrowood and Toby Hampson won reelection, and Christine Walczyk won an open seat.
Earls is a former civil rights attorney and founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. Stevens is a former state House member and attorney. WUNC reported that Earls declared victory Tuesday night after building a large lead in the unofficial count.
The Supreme Court result carries consequences beyond one judicial term. The court hears disputes involving state constitutional law, voting rules, redistricting and public education, among other issues. Earls’ reelection maintains the current minority of two Democratic justices while leaving the Republican majority intact.
Sources
- North Carolina State Board of Elections: post-election canvass and certification process
- WRAL: Earls reelection and appellate-court results
- WUNC: Earls declares victory in Supreme Court race
Photo Credit: North Carolina Law and Justice Building in Raleigh, April 16, 2023, by Indy beetle via Wikimedia Commons; CC0 1.0. Cropped and resized. NCPN logo is a separate brand mark.
Editor’s Note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.