Earls and Stevens Will Compete for Court Seat
The North Carolina Supreme Court election will take place this November for an eight-year term.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Law
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Incumbent Democratic Justice Anita Earls faces Republican challenger Sarah Stevens in the upcoming November 2026 North Carolina Supreme Court election. The contest will determine who holds the associate justice seat for an eight-year term on the state's high court.
Why it matters
The outcome is significant because the North Carolina Supreme Court holds final authority over state-law challenges to electoral maps. An Earls victory would facilitate Democratic efforts to flip control of the court in 2028.
The North Carolina Supreme Court currently maintains a 5-2 Republican majority following the state legislature's 2018 reinstatement of partisan judicial elections. The winner of this race will serve a full eight-year term.
The players
Anita Earls
She is the incumbent Democratic justice serving on the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Sarah Stevens
She is the Republican challenger and a former long-serving member of the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The details
Anita Earls, who was first elected to the bench in 2018, is being challenged by Sarah Stevens, a former state legislator. Stevens served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2009 to 2026 and held the position of speaker pro tempore from 2017 to 2025.
Timeline
Sarah Stevens served in the state House from 2009 until 2026.
Stevens served as speaker pro tempore from 2017 to 2025.
Anita Earls was first elected to the court in 2018.
The North Carolina Supreme Court election occurs in November 2026.
Political Context
The current election cycle operates under the 2018 legislative reinstatement of partisan judicial elections, which fundamentally altered the selection process for supreme court seats. Opponents of this shift argue that partisan identification undermines judicial impartiality, while supporters maintain it provides voters with clearer ideological choices.
The result of this election will determine which judges decide the legality of future electoral maps and state statutes. This shift directly influences the regulatory and civil rights landscape for all North Carolina residents for the next eight years.
The takeaway
Voters should consider the long-term implications of judicial rulings on state electoral maps as they weigh their options this November. Understanding the partisan balance of the court provides critical context for how state-level legal challenges will be resolved through 2034.
Further reading
For more information on state judiciary developments, visit the Law section.
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