Martin County, North Carolina

North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1

2 candidates are tracked for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Regina Rodgers Parker and Jerauld Brian Pafford. Candidate information follows official Martin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Regina Rodgers Parker (Democratic) and Jerauld Brian Pafford (Republican) meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1. Voters across Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington 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, Regina Rodgers Parker, is on the ballot.

North Carolina › Martin County › North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1

Regina Rodgers Parker

Democratic Incumbent

Biography

Regina Rodgers Parker was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to the Superior Court for Judicial District 2, covering Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties, on May 8, 2026, filling the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Wayland Sermons, per the Governor's office. Parker had served Judicial District 2 since 2001 and as Chief District Court Judge there since 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science from East Carolina University and her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University. No campaign website was found as of September 27, 2026.

Jerauld Brian Pafford

Republican

Biography

Jerauld Brian Pafford is a candidate for Superior Court Judge, District 2, covering Beaufort, Hyde, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties, per his campaign site. He currently works as a public defender at the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, previously ran a private law firm, and worked as in-house counsel for East Carolina University, per WCTI. He is from Eastern North Carolina and lives in Washington, North Carolina; this is his first run for public office.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNorth Carolina District Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, Seat 1 in 2026?

When is the North Carolina Superior Court Judge, District 2, 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 Martin 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 Martin 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 Martin County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Martin County ballot

5 tracked races in Martin 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 2, Seat 2 North Carolina Senate District 2 North Carolina House District 23 See all 5 Martin County races

Candidate profiles

Regina Rodgers Parker, full profile Jerauld Brian Pafford, full profile Official North Carolina election office