Clay County, North Carolina

North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 3

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 3 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: William (Bill) Jones. Candidate information follows official Clay County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

William (Bill) Jones (Democratic) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 3. Voters across Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties 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. The sitting officeholder, William (Bill) Jones, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Clay County › North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 3

William (Bill) Jones

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

William (Bill) Jones is a district court judge for Judicial District 43, appointed by Governor Josh Stein and sworn in on March 3, 2025 at the Haywood County Courthouse, per the North Carolina Governor's office. He most recently served as a solo practitioner for over two decades and previously worked as an assistant district attorney in District 30 from 1998 to 2003, and he received his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law, per themountaineer.com. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 3 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, 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 Clay 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 Clay County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Clay County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

North Carolina House District 120 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 1 North Carolina District Court Judge, District 43, Seat 2 See all 5 Clay County races

Candidate profiles

William (Bill) Jones, full profile Official North Carolina election office