Gaston County, North Carolina

North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1

One candidate is tracked for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: David A. Phillips. Candidate information follows official Gaston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

David A. Phillips (Republican) is unopposed on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1. Voters across Gaston 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. The sitting officeholder, David A. Phillips, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

North Carolina › Gaston County › North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1

David A. Phillips

Republican Incumbent

Biography

David A. Phillips is a sitting Gaston County Superior Court judge, listed in the county's 2025 Public Officials Directory with a term ending November 2026. Governor Roy Cooper appointed him to the District 38 bench in April 2018 after 28 years in private practice as a criminal defense attorney in Gastonia, and he served 12 years on the Gaston County Board of Education, per NC Newsline. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for David A. Phillips.

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, Seat 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 38, 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 Gaston 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 Gaston 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 Gaston County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Gaston County ballot

20 tracked races in Gaston 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 38, Seat 2 Gaston County Board of Commissioners Dallas Township Gaston County Board of Commissioners Gastonia Township See all 20 Gaston County races

Candidate profiles

David A. Phillips, full profile Official North Carolina election office