2024 North Carolina judicial elections

At least one justice of the seven-member North Carolina Supreme Court and at least three judges of the fifteen-member North Carolina Court of Appeals are scheduled to be elected by North Carolina voters on November 5, 2024, concurrently with other state elections. Terms for seats on each court are eight years. These elections are conducted on a partisan basis.

Primary elections (for seats with more than one candidate from a political party) were held on March 5, 2024.

Supreme Court Seat 6

This seat is currently held by Associate Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat. Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to the seat following the early retirement of Michael R. Morgan, also a Democrat. Morgan had announced in 2023 that he would not run for reelection in 2024.^[1] Riggs ran for a full term, as did Judge Lora Cubbage, a fellow Democrat.^[2]

On January 5, 2023, NC Court of Appeals judge Jefferson Griffin announced that he would run for the seat as a Republican.^[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Lora Cubbage, North Carolina Superior Court judge and former District Court judge^[4]^[5]
Allison Riggs, incumbent and former Court of Appeals judge

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Lora Cubbage	Allison Riggs	Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)	December 15–16, 2023	556 (LV)	± 4.2%	9%	12%	79%

Results

Democratic primary results^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Allison Riggs (incumbent)	450,268	69.10
	Democratic	Lora Christine Cubbage	201,336	30.90
Total votes			651,604	100.00

Republican primary

Candidates

Jefferson Griffin, Court of Appeals judge

General election

Debate

2024 North Carolina Supreme Court Seat 6 debate
No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
					Riggs	Griffin
1	June 28, 2024	North Carolina Bar Association	Tim Boyum	YouTube	P	P

Endorsements

Jefferson Griffin

Organizations

National Federation of Independent Business North Carolina PAC^[7]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Allison Riggs	Jefferson Griffin	Undecided
ActiVote	October 8–26, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	48%	52%	–
Cygnal (R)^[A]	October 12–14, 2024	600 (LV)	± 3.99%	43%	45%	12%
ActiVote	August 20 – September 22, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	52%	48%	–
Cygnal (R)^[A]	September 15–16, 2024	600 (LV)	± 3.99%	44%	41%	15%
YouGov (D)^[B]	August 5–9, 2024	802 (RV)	± 3.9%	42%	41%	17%
Cygnal (R)^[A]	August 4–5, 2024	600 (LV)	± 3.99%	37%	40%	22%
Spry Strategies	June 7–11, 2024	600 (LV)	± 4.0%	39%	37%	24%
Change Research (D)^[B]	May 13–18, 2024	835 (LV)	± 3.8%	41%	40%	19%
Cygnal (R)^[A]	May 4–5, 2024	600 (LV)	± 3.99%	39%	40%	21%
Meeting Street Insights (R)^[C]	April 25–28, 2024	500 (RV)	± 4.4%	42%	40%	18%

Results

North Carolina Supreme Court election, 2024
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	Allison Riggs (incumbent)
	Republican	Jefferson Griffin
Total votes

Court of Appeals Seat 12 (Thompson seat)

This seat is currently held by Carolyn Thompson, a Democrat. Governor Roy Cooper appointed her to fill the vacancy caused when he elevated Judge Allison Riggs (also a Democrat) to the Supreme Court.^[8]^[9] Thompson is running for a full term.^[10]

Former state representative Tom Murry (Republican) is also running for the seat.^[11]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Carolyn Thompson, incumbent and 2022 candidate^[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

Tom Murry, former state representative^[4]

General election

Debates

2024 North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 12 debate
No.	Date	Host	Moderator	Link	Democratic	Republican
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
					Thompson	Murry
1	June 28, 2024	North Carolina Bar Association	Tim Boyum	YouTube	P	P

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Carolyn Thompson	Tom Murry	Undecided
ActiVote	October 8–26, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	48%	52%	–
ActiVote	August 20 – September 22, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	49%	51%	–

Endorsements

Tom Murry

Organizations

National Federation of Independent Business North Carolina PAC^[7]

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 12 election, 2024
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	Carolyn Thompson (incumbent)
	Republican	Tom Murry
Total votes

Court of Appeals Seat 14 (Zachary seat)

This seat is currently held by Judge Valerie Zachary, a Republican.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Ed Eldred, attorney^[4]^[12]

Republican primary

Candidates

Valerie Zachary, incumbent

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Valerie Zachary	Ed Eldred	Undecided
ActiVote	October 8–26, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	52%	48%	–
ActiVote	August 20 – September 22, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	53%	47%	–

Endorsements

Valerie Zachary

Organizations

National Federation of Independent Business North Carolina PAC^[7]

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 12 election, 2024
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Valerie Zachary (incumbent)
	Democratic	Ed Eldred
Total votes

Court of Appeals Seat 15 (Murphy seat)

This seat is currently held by Judge Hunter Murphy, a Republican.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Martin E. Moore, attorney and Buncome County commissioner^[4]^[13]

Republican primary

Candidates

Chris Freeman, District Court judge^[4]^[14]
Hunter Murphy, incumbent^[4]

Results

Republican primary results^[6]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chris Freeman	532,794	62.64
	Republican	Hunter Murphy (incumbent)	317,807	37.36
Total votes			850,601	100.00

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size^[a]	Margin of error	Chris Freeman	Martin Moore	Undecided
ActiVote	October 8–26, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	53%	47%	–
ActiVote	August 20 – September 22, 2024	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	52%	48%	–

Endorsements

Chris Freeman

Organizations

National Federation of Independent Business North Carolina PAC^[7]

Results

North Carolina Court of Appeals Seat 15 election, 2024
Party		Candidate
	Republican	Chris Freeman
	Democratic	Martin Moore
Total votes

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Poll sponsored by the Carolina Journal
^ ^a ^b Poll sponsored by Carolina Forward
^ Poll sponsored by Carolina Partnership for Reform & Carolina Leadership Coalition

References

^ Doran, Will (May 18, 2023). "Democratic NC Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan won't run for reelection in 2024". WRAL-TV. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Cubbage campaign
^ Griffin, Jefferson (January 5, 2023). "After much consideration, prayer, and many lengthy discussions with Katye, I have decided to challenge Democrat Justice Michael Morgan for the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2024. Thank you for your support! Join our campaign:". Twitter. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g NC State Board of Elections: 2024 Primary Election Candidate filings list
^ "Gov. Cooper Appoints Three New Judges". Governor of North Carolina. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "03/05/2024 UNOFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "NFIB North Carolina PAC Endorses Candidates in Four Judicial Races". National Federation of Independent Business. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Anderson, Bryan (December 15, 2022). "Cooper selects voting access advocate Allison Riggs to fill appeals court seat". WRAL-TV. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ "Governor Cooper Announces Two Judicial Appointments". Governor of North Carolina. September 11, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Duneja, Annika (September 19, 2023). "Judge Carolyn Thompson appointed to N.C. Court of Appeals". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Opeka, Theresa (September 25, 2023). "Murry leaves NC AG race to run for NC Court of Appeals". Carolina Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Law Offices of Amos Tyndall
^ Doty, Kelly (December 5, 2023). "Commissioner Martin Moore runs for North Carolina Court of Appeals". WLOS. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^ Greensboro News & Record

External links

[Key-6] Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear

[Carolina_Journal-9] Poll sponsored by the Carolina Journal

[CarolinaFWD1-10] Poll sponsored by Carolina Forward

[11] Poll sponsored by Carolina Partnership for Reform & Carolina Leadership Coalition

[1] Doran, Will (May 18, 2023). "Democratic NC Supreme Court Justice Michael Morgan won't run for reelection in 2024". WRAL-TV. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[2] Cubbage campaign

[3] Griffin, Jefferson (January 5, 2023). "After much consideration, prayer, and many lengthy discussions with Katye, I have decided to challenge Democrat Justice Michael Morgan for the North Carolina Supreme Court in 2024. Thank you for your support! Join our campaign:". Twitter. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[ncsbe-filings-4] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g NC State Board of Elections: 2024 Primary Election Candidate filings list

[5] "Gov. Cooper Appoints Three New Judges". Governor of North Carolina. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[PrimaryResults-7] "03/05/2024 UNOFFICIAL PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS - STATEWIDE". North Carolina State Board of Elections. Retrieved March 9, 2024.

[nfib-8] "NFIB North Carolina PAC Endorses Candidates in Four Judicial Races". National Federation of Independent Business. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[12] Anderson, Bryan (December 15, 2022). "Cooper selects voting access advocate Allison Riggs to fill appeals court seat". WRAL-TV. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[13] "Governor Cooper Announces Two Judicial Appointments". Governor of North Carolina. September 11, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[14] Duneja, Annika (September 19, 2023). "Judge Carolyn Thompson appointed to N.C. Court of Appeals". The Daily Tar Heel. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[15] Opeka, Theresa (September 25, 2023). "Murry leaves NC AG race to run for NC Court of Appeals". Carolina Journal. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[16] Law Offices of Amos Tyndall

[17] Doty, Kelly (December 5, 2023). "Commissioner Martin Moore runs for North Carolina Court of Appeals". WLOS. Retrieved October 16, 2024.

[18] Greensboro News & Record

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Supreme Court Seat 6

Democratic primary

Candidates

Polling

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Debate

Endorsements

Polling

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 12 (Thompson seat)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Debates

Polling

Endorsements

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 14 (Zachary seat)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

General election

Polling

Endorsements

Results

Court of Appeals Seat 15 (Murphy seat)

Democratic primary

Candidates

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

General election

Polling

Endorsements

Results

See also

Notes

References

External links