The Ballot Brief
Cumberland County, North Carolina

North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Stephen Craig Stokes and Rob Hasty. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Stephen Craig Stokes (Democratic) and Rob Hasty (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1. This seat covers part of Cumberland County, per North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 7A; only voters in that part of the Superior Court district see this race. 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. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Stephen Craig Stokes, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Cumberland County › North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1

Stephen Craig Stokes

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Stokes was appointed by Governor Stein in December 2025 to the Cumberland County Superior Court, filling the vacancy left by Judge Claire Hill's retirement, per the NC Judicial Branch. He previously served 10 years as a Cumberland County District Court judge and has also worked as a deputy sheriff, military police officer, Army paratrooper and Ranger, prosecutor and defense lawyer. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Stephen Craig Stokes.

Rob Hasty

Republican

Top priorities
  • Ensuring every party is heard fairly and treated with dignity in the courtroom
  • Upholding a deep commitment to the rule of law
  • Bringing legal knowledge and respect for every person who enters the courtroom

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hasty has more than 25 years of legal experience, including as a litigator with Anderson, Johnson, Lawrence, Butler & Bock in Fayetteville, per the campaign site. Since 2012, Hasty has served as an Assistant County Attorney for Cumberland County, per the campaign site.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14B, Seat 1

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Stephen Craig Stokes and Rob Hasty. Candidate information follows official Cumberland County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14A, Seat 1 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Cumberland County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 14C, Seat 1North Carolina District Court Judge, District 14, Seat 1North Carolina District Court Judge, District 14, Seat 2See all 23 Cumberland County races
Candidate profiles
Stephen Craig Stokes, full profileRob Hasty, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office