Why Republican judges tend to win
Unaffiliated voters like judges who stick to the rule of law. Will that open the door to district court judges in big cities?
I got the chance to join the Hornet’s Nest Republican Men’s Club for Judicialpalooza last week. Which is a fantastic name for an event, by the way.
It was a powerhouse crowd, with multiple Court of Appeals judges on hand, plus several candidates who want to join them next year.
The U.S. Senate race is going to suck up all the oxygen, but the stakes in the 2026 judicial elections are pretty high, too. Democrats will make a hard run to re-elect Justice Anita Earls, and if they do, they could flip the N.C. Supreme Court by winning two of three seats in 2028.
Fallout from the Jefferson Griffin challenge notwithstanding, my read is that Rep. Sarah Stevens still has better-than-even odds to beat Earls, even at a steep money disadvantage.
There’s a simple reason why.
Court of Appeals Judge Michael Stading put his finger on it at the event. Stading described how he talks to unaffiliated voters, and even some Democrats, when he’s campaigning. He simply asks: What do you want out of a judge?
“If they’re honest, they’ll say, ‘I want a judge who will follow the law,’” Stading said.
It shouldn’t be this way, but that simple statement is very Republican-coded in this era. The conservative view of the judiciary — interpret the law, don’t write it — is broadly popular. Out of all the justices on the North Carolina Supreme Court, it also fits Earls the least.
You can see it in the results: Since judicial races became partisan again in 2018, Republicans have won 19 of 26 statewide contests, sweeping all three in 2020 and all six in 2022 to build a 5–2 Supreme Court majority. The Riggs/Griffin race broke a 12-straight streak, but the overall pattern still holds.
Job first. Voters don’t want crusaders in robes. They want adults who apply the rules as written.
Safety always. Real accountability for people who prey on others.
Fair means predictable. Same rules, same consequences — whether you’re powerful or not.
But don’t just focus on the top of the ticket
That message travels from Raleigh to the courthouse down the street.
Yes, appellate seats are critical — but metro-area Superior and District Court races are just as important. In Mecklenburg County, Republicans didn’t even field district court candidates in 2024.
Still, Judge Matt Osman won an eight-year Superior Court term in 2022, and Paulina Havelka came within about 1,000 votes. There’s a lane when the pitch is simple and credible: law first, politics second.
Charlotte was reminded of those stakes in the worst way. In my column this week, I wrote about Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old who fled Ukraine and was killed on our light rail.
Public safety has to involve serious judges in local office. That’s the case for Republican judges right now: keep their oath, protect the innocent, and treat every life as non-negotiable.
Read the column here (no paywall with this gift link): Killing on the light rail should jolt Charlotte awake
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Last week, I asked you about the Cracker Barrel logo. A plurality (41%) of you said you don’t care, and 36% said it’s bland and soulless. That sounds about right.
This week, let’s talk about judges.
Good morning, Andrew,
The election of judges should be a non-partisan thing but this doesn’t reflect the reality of what is happening in today’s political environment.
Yes, the NC senate race is going to suck up all the money, publicity, energy, and everything else. I agree that all the other races need our attention, especially the judges. I wish we had a better way to better evaluate how we elect them.
Enjoy your Labor Day holiday
I supported Griffin during his first campaigns. He is charming, intelligent and his secret weapon was his wife (she campaigned for him while he was deployed) who is more charming, more intelligent and wise beyond her years. What happened to him? From his freshman campaign to now? He talked about "if I don't win," (didn't say if I loose, smart guy), I will accept the results and move on to the next chapter whether it be running for office or something else. paraphrased.
He didn't, he became a sour old man overnight? Was part of this caused by PTSD from military campaigns? I don't know. But his demeanor is different. No, I am not talking about the naiveite of a first time candidate, I am talking about something in his spirit. What is he doing now? Practicing law? Taking a breather (he should) and setting up this present and future path?
He was a fair and honest judge who followed the exact word of the law, in other words, his opinions and judgements were exact to the letter of the law. Didn't waiver, didn't let his heart or soul judge, just the statutes. To the point it was almost frustrating but totally perfect.
Now the NCGOP needs to regroup and find a judge candidate who is fair, ethical and has either positive track record as a judge, magistrate or lawyer, someone with charm, no skeletons in the closet, able to raise money and get the power backers yet appeal to the common people.
He/she needs to be strong and firm on the bench or in front of the bench yet "kiss babies and rescue kittens from the tree" so to speak.
Someone who has the titanium (stronger than steel) spine to uphold the law and bail and not be afraid to show pictures of victims graves, pictures of the victims when alive and their caskets and families. Those visions in the ads will win the election, hands down. That is what anyone who had the courage (no Republican did) to run against Vile Lies (Vi Liles) would have had to do. The Kenny Smith reply to why didn't you challenge her (Liles) was she is a lady was stupid and ridiculous, with that type of candidate, the Republicans did not deserve to win that mayoral race.
Miss hearing you speak, my friend. Still believe that candidate need to be groomed and vetted. Democrats do, the Political School that I dropped out of was the prime example. Greensboro democrats sent their workers to the classes, paid for them and paid them as if it was paid work time. These men and women (I knew them well back then) also said they were on the clock when they went out to campaign and work at the polls. So any "illegal" crap we get from the local GOP HQs is just that crap. Maybe groom and get them as candidates behind closed doors, we will never have any power in NC unless we start following what the democrats do.