Buncombe County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ben Scales. Candidate information follows official Buncombe County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Ben Scales (Democratic) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3. Voters across Buncombe County vote on this seat, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A. North Carolina judicial races have been partisan since the 2018 court reorganization. The field is the State Board of Elections' certified general-election candidate list (read September 7, 2026).

What this office does

Trial court judge. A trial judge presides over criminal and civil cases at the first level: bail and pleas, motions, trials, sentencing and civil judgments. Judges are bound by state law and appellate precedent and are barred by judicial conduct rules from campaigning on how they would rule. Most states elect trial judges on a nonpartisan ballot; the term and the courts a judge may sit on vary by state.

This race. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Buncombe County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3

Ben Scales

Democratic

Biography

Ben Scales is a candidate for District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3, in Buncombe County, per his campaign site. He has more than 35 years of trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts, has practiced in Buncombe County District Court since 2006, and served as a law clerk to two federal judges. He earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech in 1986 and a Juris Doctor from the Cumberland School of Law in 1991, and has been inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society every year since 2014, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 4

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 3 election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Buncombe County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Buncombe County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full Buncombe County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Buncombe County ballot

17 tracked races in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 40, Seat 5 Buncombe County District Attorney Buncombe County Sheriff See all 17 Buncombe County races

Candidate profiles

Ben Scales, full profile Official North Carolina election office